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June 29th, 2016:

E-cigarette use among college students: Helpful aid or risky enabler?

Summary:

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use continues to rise, and current data regarding use of e-cigarettes among college students are needed. The study connects e-cigarette use in colleges to high rates of alcohol consumption and other factors such as: gender, race/ethnicity and traditional cigarettes. The rise of e-cigarettes may be a positive consequence of cigarette smokers who use this product to quit smoking or to avoid the toxicity of traditional cigarettes. However, e-cigarette use does not always reflect an attempt to reduce cigarette smoking and may instead indicate a general propensity to use psychoactive substances, especially among emerging adults.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160629110034.htm

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use continues to rise, and current data regarding use of e-cigarettes among college students are needed. The study, “Electronic Cigarette Use Among College Students: Links to Gender, Race/Ethnicity, Smoking, and Heavy Drinking” found in the Journal of American College Health connects e-cigarette use in colleges to high rates of alcohol consumption and other factors such as: gender, race/ethnicity and traditional cigarettes. The rise of e-cigarettes may be a positive consequence of cigarette smokers who use this product to quit smoking or to avoid the toxicity of traditional cigarettes. However, e-cigarette use does not always reflect an attempt to reduce cigarette smoking and may instead indicate a general propensity to use psychoactive substances, especially among emerging adults.

The purpose of this study was to examine e-cigarette use and the relation of such use with gender, race/ethnicity, traditional tobacco use, and heavy drinking. A sample of 599 college students enrolled in General Psychology at a state university completed a self-report questionnaire. Twenty-nine percent of students reported prior use of e-cigarettes, with 14% reporting use in the past 30 days. E-cigarette use was linked to male gender but not to race/ethnicity. Dual use (i.e., concurrent use of both traditional and e-cigarettes) was related to heavier use of traditional and e-cigarettes, and nicotine use was linked to pronounced rates of heavy drinking.

The authors write: “The current findings suggest that e-cigarettes may represent another “tool in the tool chest” among college students with a proclivity to use (and misuse) psychoactive substances.”

Of most concern is the link between e-cigarette use and heavy drinking. “Although smoke-free legislation has led to several public health benefits, the increasing popularity and presence of e-cigarettes may allow college students to circumvent these bans and more readily co-use alcohol and nicotine. Several lines of evidence suggest that nicotine use (a) enhances the reinforcing effects of alcohol use, especially among men; (b) increases the duration of a drinking episode; and (c) leads to higher levels of cravings for both alcohol and cigarettes when co-used with alcohol. Further, alcohol and tobacco use disorders are prospectively linked in college students.”

The results showed that e-cigarette use among college students is exponentially on the rise, and its co-use with alcohol may contribute to negative outcomes in this population.

1,500% increase in children poisoned by liquid nicotine

http://www.kplctv.com/story/32333152/1500-increase-in-children-poisoned-by-liquid-nicotine

The growing popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping has led to an enormous increase in children being poisoned by liquid nicotine. Calls to poison control centers have increased by 1,500 percent over the past three years, according to a recently released report in the medical journal, Pediatrics.

Pediatrician Anatole Karpovs with The Children’s Clinic of Southwest Louisiana is sounding the alarm about these lurking dangers.

He says liquid nicotine can come in fruit and candy flavors and packaged in bright colors that are especially appealing to children. Combine that visual temptation with easy access and the result for children can be dangerous poisoning, according to Dr. Karpovs.

“They are not put in child safety containers and they are oftentimes very colorful, they are flavored, and so it can be very, very attractive to a young child who sees this out in the open.”

Researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Center for Injury Research and Policy analyzed calls from the National Poison Data System from 2012 to 2015. It showed more than half of those ingesting liquid nicotine were under the age of six.

“They’re not safe,” said Dr. Karpovs. “The children oftentimes get stomach pain and vomiting. They are often referred to emergency room centers or secondary care centers.”

E-cigarettes and vaping products have been touted as a good thing by some, compared with tobacco-burning cigarettes. But Dr. Karpovs says there is no evidence to support they are actually safer and liquid nicotine is still highly addictive.

“Vaping has been presented to people as being somehow less dangerous than cigarette smoking. There’s just no evidence that’s the case,” said Dr. Karpovs.

The National Poison Data System shows an average of 729 children ingest, inhale, or absorb liquid nicotine through the skin or eyes every month.

Dr. Karpovs says if you have tobacco or nicotine products in your home, keep them far away from children.

“Just like any medicine or any kind of dangerous chemical, put it up out of the way of the children, lock it away and do not give them the temptation to get into it,” he said.

Starting in August, the Food and Drug Administration will start regulating electronic nicotine delivery systems. That includes e-cigarettes, vape pens, cigars, hookah tobacco, pipe tobacco, and nicotine gel.

Chicago Enforces Tobacco Purchase Age Increase

By the end of the week, no one under 21 will be able to purchase tobacco products in Chicago.

Beginning Friday, July 1, 2016, Chicago will require consumers to be 21 years of age, or older, to purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products.

According to a report from the Chicagoist, this new law was passed in March 2016, but it is just now taking effect.

In addition to increasing the legal age to purchase tobacco products, the new law requires retailers that sell tobacco products to post signs reflecting the change.

A number of health advocates believe that the new law will discourage youth from purchasing and smoking tobacco products, but the Chicagoist reported that Rob Karr, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, stated that the new law most likely drive younger consumers to purchase cigarettes outside the city, or illegally.

The report from the Chicagoist also revealed that the new law also applies to vaping paraphernalia.

DH raids retail shop for suspected illegal sale of nicotine-containing liquid for electronic cigarettes

http://7thspace.com/headlines/528532/dh_raids_retail_shop_for_suspected_illegal_sale_of_nicotine_containing_liquid_for_electronic_cigarettes.html

Hong Kong (HKSAR) – The Department of Health (DH) today (June 29) raided a retail shop in Mong Kok in a joint operation with the Police for suspected illegal sale of a nicotine-containing liquid called Liqua Original Smoke Juice Cuban Cigar Tobacco intended for use with electronic nicotine delivery systems, commonly known as electronic cigarettes.

A sample of the above product was purchased previously from the above shop by the DH for laboratory analysis. Test results from the Government Laboratory revealed that the sample contained nicotine, a Part 1 poison.

A woman aged 34 was arrested by the Police for suspected illegal sale and possession of a Part 1 poison and unregistered pharmaceutical products in the operation.

The DH’s investigation is continuing.

“Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), nicotine-containing electronic cigarette products are classified as pharmaceutical products requiring registration with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be sold in Hong Kong. Unregistered pharmaceutical products are not evaluated by the Board and their safety, quality and efficacy cannot be guaranteed,” a spokesman for the DH said.

In addition, Part 1 poisons can only be sold at pharmacies under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.

Illegal sale and possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products and Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.

Members of the public who have purchased the above product should stop using it immediately and consult healthcare professionals for advice if they are in doubt or feeling unwell after use. They may submit it to the DH’s Drug Office in Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.

Smokers are advised to quit smoking and may call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline (1833 183).

Information on smoking cessation can also be obtained from the DH’s Tobacco Control Office website (www.tco.gov.hk).