81% of young parents think, that e-cigarettes are not harmful

Electronic cigarettes developed a good reputation around parents who believe that they are less harmful than regular cigarettes. Many young parents are using electronic cigaretted according to research that was presented on Sunday, May 4, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Vancouver, B.C., the Medical Daily reported.

Electronic cigarettes, better known as e-cigarettes, are battery-powered devices that are designed to mimic real cigarettes, except they contain a nicotine-laced liquid that is vaporized and inhaled by smokers. They are similar to real cigarettes — though they come in a variety of nicotine levels and flavors — and many regular cigarette smokers have switched to e-cigarettes as a healthier alternative. As of late, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated any e-cigarettes for safety or effectiveness and there is no required standard for their production.

A random sample of more than 3,000 adults were surveyed in September of 2013 and of those, 88 percent were between the ages of 18 to 24 years old. Nearly a quarter of them were parents (22 percent).

Thirteen percent of those parents reported trying e-cigarettes, with 45 percent saying that they had never smoked regular cigarettes, or that they were former smokers. Six percent of parents who tried e-cigarettes reported using one in the past 30 days.

When parents were asked why they used electronic cigarettes, 81 percent said they thought they were less harmful to people around them than when they smoked regular cigarettes. Seventy-six percent said they thought e-cigarettes were more acceptable to non-tobacco users and 72 percent said they chose the electronic version because they were allowed to smoke in places where regular cigarettes weren’t allowed.

"This study has two alarming findings. First, the risks of e-cigarette use and exposure to vapor are unknown, yet many parents report using these electronic cigarettes to reduce harm to others,” said lead author Dr. Robert C. McMillen, an associate professor at the Social Science Research Center at Mississippi State University. “Second, half of current users are nonsmokers, suggesting that unlike tobacco harm-reduction products, e-cigarettes contribute to primary nicotine addiction and to renormalization of smoking behaviors."

All young adults who tried e-cigarettes reported also trying a menthol or fruit-flavored device, which may be a reflection of marketing tactics.

Recently, two reports found electronic cigarette manufacturers have been using advertising to target youth, which could lead to a new generation of nicotine addicts. 

According to the FDA, it is unknown if e-cigarettes may lead young people to try other tobacco products such as regular cigarettes, which are medically proven to cause disease and premature death.

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