“E-Cigarettes are NOT designed to Promote Cigarette Smoking”
As quoted in an article in the Orange County Register, the American Lung Association (ALA) now asserts that electronic cigarettes are designed as a ploy to encourage people to smoke regular cigarettes. Dr. Michael Siegel (Professor at the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, Boston University School of Public Health), tells the world the ‘rest of the story’ through his blog: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary.
The Orange County Register article mentions the concerns of one pulmonologist who states that the electronic cigarettes promote the social appeal of smoking and they’re are being marketed to smokers who want to quit as well as non smokers. While the electronic cigarette has proven to be an alternative to smoking, according to this article, it is still harmful and attracting non-smokers to take to this habit. Dr. Siegel thinks otherwise:
Dr. Siegel proposes that the electronic cigarette industry are not trying to increase the appeal of smoking. In fact, Electronic cigarette companies make their money by encouraging smokers to quit. Anything that decreases the appeal of smoking is going to increase the demand for e-cigarettes. The market for this industry is current smokers, not non-smokers.The people using these devices are smokers and former smokers who are either trying to quit smoking, trying to cut down on the amount they smoke, or simply looking for an alternative to regular cigarettes that may be safer and less expensive.
In order to get more traditional smokers to switch over, it is in the best interest of the electronic cigarette industry to de-glamorize smoking as much as possible. Quoting Dr. Siegel “People smoke not only because they are pharmacologically addicted to nicotine, but because they enjoy every aspect of the smoking behavior. Holding the cigarette, bringing it to the mouth, inhaling, and seeing the exhaled smoke are all critical behavioral aspects of the smoking addiction..” that is the reason for this device to be shaped like a cigarette. The electronic cigarette delivers the complete psychological experience to the smoker. This is also why they are going to be more effective than other nicotine replacement products. According to Dr. Siegel, the ALA’s concern is over the the ‘act of smoking’ rather than the fact the electronic cigarettes are much less harmful to public health.
“Nothing in the world will enhance the appeal of smoking than to remove electronic cigarettes from the market. Such an intervention will create hundreds of thousands (if not over a million) new cigarette smokers over night…” says Dr. Siegel.
