Study Finds More Americans Think E-Cigarettes Cause Harm

A new analysis shows more American adults perceive electronic cigarettes to be as harmful or more harmful than regular cigarettes. A CNN article says researchers examined data from a variety of sources including the Georgia State University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science and the Health Information National Trends Survey, administered by the National Cancer Institute.

What the Study Found

When the results of both surveys were combined, researchers found the percentage of people who believed e-cigarettes were less harmful than regular cigarettes decreased from 45 percent in 2012 to 35 percent in 2017. The number of people who thought e-cigarettes were as harmful as regular cigarettes increased to 45 percent in that time and those who believed e-cigs were more harmful remained low, at 10 percent.

The results of this study were published March 29 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The authors noted that the findings of this latest study emphasize the urgent “need to accurately communicate the risks of e-cigarettes to the public.” They added that as more and more people realize the harm caused by e-cigarettes, they will be less willing to use them.

E-Cigarettes are Harmful

E-cigs essentially work by heating a pure liquid called e-juice composed of flavorings, propylene glycol, glycerin and nicotine, until it vaporizers. While the resulting vapor is not as offensive as tobacco smoke, recent research has shown that it contains harmful chemicals that could cause an array of health effects including lung damage. Studies have linked the use of e-cigarettes with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory diseases at rates similar to those of traditional cigarettes in some cases.

The manufacturers of e-cigarettes have marketed them as cessation products. In other words, they’ve claimed e-cigarettes help people quit smoking. However, what they have managed to conceal from consumers is the fact that it causes as much damage to their health. The most affected have been our nation’s youth who have been lured by marketing and advertising into using these products.

Holding Manufacturers Accountable

The federal government has been cracking down on manufacturers such as Juul, who have cornered a large share of the e-cigarette market by marketing specifically to teenagers. These companies have done nothing but replace Big Tobacco companies and dialed back the efforts of public health advocates who have worked hard over decades to bring down tobacco use and smoking in this country, especially among the youth.

As product defect lawyers, we hope the government will do more to keep these dangerous products away from the hands of consumers. We are working tirelessly to hold these e-cigarette manufacturers accountable for the damages they have caused.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/29/health/ecigarette-cigarette-risks-study/index.html