E-cigs could be just a pipe dream for tobacco users trying to kick the addiction.
According to a study published May 3 by Georgia State Health Professor Dr. Terry Pechacek, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) — often called “vapes” — don’t offer an appealing enough alternative to the real thing, which means e-cigs won’t be replacing their smoky predecessors any time soon,
“Clearly the potential is there, but nicotine’s effect is only one part of the satisfaction,” Pechacek said of the variables used to assess the nearly 6,000 adults surveyed. “But there’s so much more to look at. There needs to be a confidence that [ENDS] are the less-risky option.”
But the chemical components of ENDS can’t yet be deemed “less-risky” either. Although uncertain, Pechacek said, some scientists suggest ENDS could play a role in the development of pulmonary and cardiovascular problems for long-time, frequent users.
Pechacek said he and his team of Georgia State scientists are carefully watching market trends and production processes to see where ENDS-makers are tweaking plans to better “disrupt” nicotine addictions.
“We’re watching the manufacturers changing up their processes, but we’re cautious [to deem them disruptive] because we need to look at everything; cost, convenience, accessibility,” he said.
Jason Lindner, a Georgia State student working at headshop EAV Smoke, said the vapes that look like real cigarettes — “cig-a-likes” — are actually moving off shelves much slower than the bigger, boxy, build-it-yourself devices.
And the vape market has seen a spike since the tech became more accessible and the billowing clouds became — seemingly — more tolerable, meaning smoke shops and gas stations have been stocking up on e-cigs and vape stores and clubs have been popping up around Atlanta.
“I never vape because I don’t smoke cigarettes,” Lindner said, “but we do have a ton of customers who rave on about their vapes and their change of heart switching over to [what they believe to be] less harmful chemicals and whatnot.”
Lindner also said he thinks the culture that’s sprouted from the introduction of ‘vape life’ seems a bit superfluous. And Pechacek said, to get the hang of all the nuts and bolts holding together the bigger, more complex e-cigs, you really gotta do your homework.
“More advanced systems are like the first computers, you kinda need to be a techie to know what you’re doing,” Pechacek said of the more complicated ENDS.
