Electronic cigarettes, small pieces of metal, some resembling a real cigarette, others resembling a sonic screwdriver have become increasingly popular in America, but more importantly,

in the lives of teenagers. E cigs are small, battery-powered cartridges that hold a liquid that becomes inhalable when heated. These liquids may or may not contain nicotine.

Since e cigs are so new to the market, and are now increasing in popularity, the FDA admits that there are many things that they don’t know, including potential risks from the chemicals. In addition it is unknown whether or not the use of e cigs will cause an increase in the use of tobacco products. There is too much uncertainty regarding electronic cigarettes and since there is no information on them, there isn’t much regulation other than an 18 year old age requirement.

The benefit to e cigs is that they allow people to continue using nicotine, but without the harmful effects of tar that come from traditional cigarettes. However, when they are used recreationally there really is no point in using an e cig. If a person is buying juices with no nicotine then what’s the point?

Although people claim that e cigs are significantly safer than traditional cigarettes, complaints that have been made to the FDA look suspiciously similar to those related to cigarette smoke. According to the FDA there have been multiple reports of hospitalization due to pneumonia, heart failure, and seizures from people who regularly use electronic cigarettes. If the effects on a person’s body are similar or identical to those of cigarettes then e cigs aren’t worth the possible pain or strain on the bodies of those who aren’t using them as a tool to quit smoking.

Other problems related to the devices are not so much about the chemicals, or the juices but about the construction of the devices themselves. There have been cases of the devices overheating and burning people’s mouths and taste buds. It is impossible to say whether or not this is a consistent error or if it is due to accidental poor craftsmanship, but either way the possibility of problems is there, and they’re not worth the risk especially for people with no prior smoking problems.

Here at FHN, more and more people seem to be talking about using an e cig, or not being able to wait until they’re 18 to go out and buy their own. But have these people suddenly developed an addiction to nicotine? No, they just see the posters or they see the stars at the Golden Globes smoking them, or they hear it tastes good and then they want one too. According to NBC News, one company even hired men dressed only in swimsuits to pass out free samples on subway cars. At that point the companies can no longer claim that they are advertising for people attempting to quit smoking; they are trying to increase the size of the $2 billion franchise that has already been created which, according to the Huffington Post is predicted to surpass the cigarette companies in about 10 years.

E cigs have only been around for a few years, and just recently have been popping up in the pockets of 18 year olds who are barely old enough to legally buy them, but as they increase in popularity the information that we have available about their safety needs to increase as well. Looking at different sources, you will get the same answer: “We just don’t know.” The scientists have no idea what the long term effects will be when someone uses e cigs and becomes dependent on them for 20 years. These are questions that must be answered so that the FDA can start regulating the purchase and promotion of the devices, but before the proper tests are run, e cigs need to be marketed exclusively for people who are hooked on smoking. E cigs need to be a last resort for those with no other way out of their addiction, until people can prove beyond a doubt that the chemicals found in this product will have no long term effects. They are quickly turning into a cool thing to own for teenagers who think that they will be harmless, but even the FDA will admit that they don’t know how harmless they are, and until we find out they shouldn’t marketed towards non smokers.