Here's a question: which do you think between the two, the adolescents and the long-term smokers, like e-cigarettes more?
If you answer the former, then you're definitely right. The number of young people especially those who are 18 years old and below that smoke e-cigarettes has increased that it's causing a lot of concern for Australia's Cancer Council.
There are many reasons why. First, when e-cigarettes came about, it was actually meant for long-term smokers. Lung cancer remains one of the main causes of death around the world, but it's also largely preventable if one simply cuts back or avoid smoking altogether.
The e-cigarette is being promoted as an alternative the traditional cigarettes that contains more than a hundred of carcinogenic substances and nicotine. Based on how it works, the e-cigarette creates vapour, which will then be inhaled by the smoker. It mimics the same feeling and taste of a cigarette, but advertisers say it doesn't have nicotine.
However, based on the initial reports about its contents, many of these e-cigarettes do have nicotine, although with perhaps very small quantities. Moreover, there's not much research about the effects of its components, which means how it benefits or damages the body still remains uncertain.
Another problem is the fact that e-cigarettes are less attractive to long-term smokers. Although it isn't clear why, one of the possible explanations is that for the long-term smokers, nothing still beats the actual smoke.
Interestingly, it has become a favorite choice among adolescents and young adults who think they're doing their health a better favor.
Because of this news, Paul Grogan, director of Cancer Council Policy, wants a stricter policy when it comes to accessibility of e-cigarettes to teens and commends the move of Queensland to avoid selling these products to those who are below 18 years old.