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Electronic nicotine delivery devices: - Contain ever increasing amounts of nicotine per "hit"--many teens report using an entire JuulPod per day, equal to a wh

Electronic nicotine delivery devices: - Contain ever increasing amounts of nicotine per "hit"--many teens report using an entire JuulPod per day, equal to a whole pack of cigarettes in nicotine volume. - Like menthol cigarettes, manufacturers develop ways (ex patented JuulSalts) to overcome body's natural resistance to starting and continuing nicotine abuse. - Use concentrated "e-liquid" that poses serious acute toxicity concerns to users and small children, not an issue with cigarettes Amazingly enough, research shows that youth who intentionally start nicotine abuse via electronic delivery rationalize their behavior by differentiating it from "real" smoking--compounded by misinformation from peers. It's no accident that Juul's design looks nothing like a "real" cigarette--despite delivering deadly drugs every bit as well. The vape industry (which is quickly becoming an extension of big tobacoo) wants you to believe that this is justified because they help smokers. But there is no evidence that they help people quit--and ample evidence that youth who develop nicotine use disorder from electronic delivery readily begin use of "real" cigarettes. JuulLabs/Altria do not make an FDA-approved smoking cessation device. They make an extremely effective delivery device for new abusers of nicotine. We must take a stand before the next wave of nicotine abuse takes permanent root in our society: make nicotine a schedule I controlled substance at the federal level. No longer can bigwig suits legally addict our country to a deadly drug. Sources: https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/teen-vaping/ https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/teen-vaping/ https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1805758 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1805758 https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/3/17529442/juul-vapes-nicotine-electronic-cigarettes-addiction-funding https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/3/17529442/juul-vapes-nicoti...

stan_rogers 8y ago
Health Canada and Public Health England would beg to differ.
VyseofArcadia 8y ago
> make nicotine a schedule I controlled substance at the federal level. No longer can bigwig suits legally addict our country to a deadly drug. Forgive my ignorance, but my understanding is that nicotine by itself is not particularly deadly, merely addictive. The only reason we consider nicotine any worse than caffeine is because of all the genuinely deadly stuff that comes along for the ride with typical nicotine delivery mechanisms (i.e. cigarettes.) If we had to smoke to get caffeine instead of drink tasty and arguably healthy beverages it would be just as stigmatized.
- didibus 8y ago
  Is caffeine really addictive? Comparatively to nicotine? I find issue in selling addictive products, not in terms of health, but just financial abuse. Like Casinos, micro-transactions in games, etc. The buyer is drugged by your product to need to buy more of it. There's definitly a bit of a moral dilemma here.
  - morpheuskafka 8y ago
    Agreed--I'd argue that a physically harmless, pleasure causing, addictive product is inherently worth of regulation. Dependence (use without truly wanting to) and abuse (use despite harm--which can arguably include financial harm even with no physiological affects) are the criteria for a substance use disorder which is in itself a medical diagnosis. Products that serve no useful purpose and readily lead to the development of use disorders should not be sold.
- dreamcompiler 8y ago
  Tar poisons the lungs; nicotine poisons the heart. This is oversimplified but it's not wrong.
- morpheuskafka 8y ago
  You are correct in that its not deadly in it's own right, I should have written that tobacco should be banned and nicotine with it. However, I think it certainly is fair to consider attendant consequences of its modes of abuse in regulating it--while the drug itself is not lethal in normal patterns of abuse, it's patterns of abuse do lead to deaths. It's acute lethal dose can be as little as 500mg and it is considered a deadly posion; it's actually a good thing in that regard that nicotine is rarely used "directly," as it would be hard to develop poisoning from regular use. But with the liquid in vapes themselves, that is a concern, particularly if small children have access. In terms of chronic effects, the biggest concern is adolescents and effects on brain development--not deadly, but definitely a direct harm from the drug itself. It is not a carcinogen, but it may be a tumor promoter. And it can lead to death or severe harm to the fetus if used by a pregnant mother as it crosses the placenta readily (a case of chronic levels harmless to mother reaching acute toxicity levels against the tiny weight of the baby). Lastly, the harvesting of tobacco does lead to consequences for the workers such as GTS which can cause serious symptoms. And regarding the addictive affect itself, I do see your point with regard to caffeine, however, I think it is important to consider the relative magnitude of its effects. Caffeine can lead to dependence and withdrawal, but the frequency of these effects doesn't lead to a public health concern on the level of nicotine, which is one of the core factors for a CSA scheduling action.
piva00 8y ago
Nicotine by itself is not really that dangerous, even its negative side-effects on the cardiovascular system are debated and nicotine is addictive but apart from that generally "safe" [0]. Of course, it's better no vape at all than one but between cigarettes and e-cigarettes I'm glad, as an ex-smoker, that the latter exists as an alternative. I've quit cigarettes for 6+ years now, completely cold turkey from a pack a day and it would've been much better if at the time I had the option of an e-cig, the damage compared with normal cigarettes is severely reduced and much easier than doing what I did. [0] https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/outputs/nicotine-without-smoke-tobacco-harm-reduction-0 https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/outputs/nicotine-withou...

stan_rogers 8y ago

Health Canada and Public Health England would beg to differ.

VyseofArcadia 8y ago

> make nicotine a schedule I controlled substance at the federal level. No longer can bigwig suits legally addict our country to a deadly drug. Forgive my ignorance, but my understanding is that nicotine by itself is not particularly deadly, merely addictive. The only reason we consider nicotine any worse than caffeine is because of all the genuinely deadly stuff that comes along for the ride with typical nicotine delivery mechanisms (i.e. cigarettes.) If we had to smoke to get caffeine instead of drink tasty and arguably healthy beverages it would be just as stigmatized.

didibus 8y ago
Is caffeine really addictive? Comparatively to nicotine? I find issue in selling addictive products, not in terms of health, but just financial abuse. Like Casinos, micro-transactions in games, etc. The buyer is drugged by your product to need to buy more of it. There's definitly a bit of a moral dilemma here.
- morpheuskafka 8y ago
  Agreed--I'd argue that a physically harmless, pleasure causing, addictive product is inherently worth of regulation. Dependence (use without truly wanting to) and abuse (use despite harm--which can arguably include financial harm even with no physiological affects) are the criteria for a substance use disorder which is in itself a medical diagnosis. Products that serve no useful purpose and readily lead to the development of use disorders should not be sold.
dreamcompiler 8y ago
Tar poisons the lungs; nicotine poisons the heart. This is oversimplified but it's not wrong.
morpheuskafka 8y ago
You are correct in that its not deadly in it's own right, I should have written that tobacco should be banned and nicotine with it. However, I think it certainly is fair to consider attendant consequences of its modes of abuse in regulating it--while the drug itself is not lethal in normal patterns of abuse, it's patterns of abuse do lead to deaths. It's acute lethal dose can be as little as 500mg and it is considered a deadly posion; it's actually a good thing in that regard that nicotine is rarely used "directly," as it would be hard to develop poisoning from regular use. But with the liquid in vapes themselves, that is a concern, particularly if small children have access. In terms of chronic effects, the biggest concern is adolescents and effects on brain development--not deadly, but definitely a direct harm from the drug itself. It is not a carcinogen, but it may be a tumor promoter. And it can lead to death or severe harm to the fetus if used by a pregnant mother as it crosses the placenta readily (a case of chronic levels harmless to mother reaching acute toxicity levels against the tiny weight of the baby). Lastly, the harvesting of tobacco does lead to consequences for the workers such as GTS which can cause serious symptoms. And regarding the addictive affect itself, I do see your point with regard to caffeine, however, I think it is important to consider the relative magnitude of its effects. Caffeine can lead to dependence and withdrawal, but the frequency of these effects doesn't lead to a public health concern on the level of nicotine, which is one of the core factors for a CSA scheduling action.

piva00 8y ago

Nicotine by itself is not really that dangerous, even its negative side-effects on the cardiovascular system are debated and nicotine is addictive but apart from that generally "safe" [0]. Of course, it's better no vape at all than one but between cigarettes and e-cigarettes I'm glad, as an ex-smoker, that the latter exists as an alternative. I've quit cigarettes for 6+ years now, completely cold turkey from a pack a day and it would've been much better if at the time I had the option of an e-cig, the damage compared with normal cigarettes is severely reduced and much easier than doing what I did. [0] https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/outputs/nicotine-without-smoke-tobacco-harm-reduction-0 https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/outputs/nicotine-withou...