The Psychobiological Problems of Continued Nicotine Dependency in E-Cigarette ‘Vapers’. Commentary: “Electronic Cigarettes”
Abstract
Electronic cigarettes were originally introduced as devices to facilitate smoking cessation, but their efficacy in this regard has not been established. Instead, they are often used to facilitate continued cigarette smoking in adults, and are common entry devices for nicotine dependency in children and adolescents (1). The aim of this commentary is to emphasize these problems since far from improving health, E-cigarettes may paradoxically be damaging physical/psychological health. Furthermore, while this is certainly an issue for active smokers, it may become an increasing problem for those who are “passively vaping” E-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices, which deliver hits of nicotine via the inhalation of an aerosol spray, which contains a mixture of nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals (1–3). The E-cigarette was originally introduced as an aid to facilitate smoking cessation. It followed the successful development of earlier nicotine substitution devices, such as nicotine chewing gum, nicotine transdermal patch, and the inhaler (4–6). However, these earlier products were only partially effective at nicotine delivery, with 2 mg gum producing around 25% of the psychophysiological effects of a nicotine cigarette and 4 mg nicotine gum producing around 40% of its physiological effects (7). Yet, despite their comparative inefficacy at nicotine delivery, they partially assuaged nicotine cravings, which allowed them to double the success rates for smoking…
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