The FDA and a 3.7 Million Dollar Experiment

LOS ANGELES - March 18, 2015 - PRLog -- The vaping industry is one that consistently changes with the times. Whether it be new and improved mods, atomizers, etc. there are always new items and information that you can learn about this ever changing vaping community. With that being said, there are also huge vaping concerns that others outside of this community worry about.

So what strides have been made to change this stigma? Well, there have been petitions, votes, and legislation being pushed regarding vaping and the acceptance of this life changing cessation method for quitting cigarettes. There have been continuous news stories on huge stations, countess blogs written, and multiple vape shops, juice companies, and manufacturers that have done their part to try to enlighten the public. Needless to say, the battle rages on and the FDA has started to make strides towards actual regulations in this industry.

With all of that being said, the question remains the same. Does vaping actually help cessation of smoking? Well, if you were to ask me and countless others who have worked in this industry, seen the results and heard the stories, we would say yes. However, the FDA needs proof and a new 3.7 million dollar federal study of this question is supposed to be the answer.

So what exactly is the study? The University of Wisconsin has received a 3.7 million dollar grant to study the prospect of vaping and cessation. The study combines the following; a longitudinal study of smokers and "dual users." The term, dual users, meaning that these prospects will continue to smoke and vape and exclusive cigarette smokers will also be studied separately. This study will combine a past preliminary pilot study as well as lung tests and blood tests that will monitor the toxins created by smoking. Also, dual users will use an app to track their habits and these users will be able to further their thoughts on how their cravings are being affected by vaping and how often they actually smoke.

The idea that this study wants to encompass is the concept of people using vaping as a crutch and they will continue to smoke. The focus is on the younger generations that will end up vaping because they think it is less risky and eventually end up smoking because of the crutch that they have therefor been created by vaping.

What do I think of this? Well, there are so many points that I don't even have time, or space to discuss everything I feel, so I will try to sum this up to the best of my abilities. Let's start with the basics.

Vaping is a crutch??

Moment of truth: so I know people who do smoke and vape. My mom, for instance, just started on the iStick 30 watt and continues to smoke because she is weening herself off. Would I call that particular story of cigarettes being a crutch? Well, sure, I guess if you call trying to break a 35 year long addiction by weening a "crutch," that would suffice as a good example. However, with that being said, I don't understand what this "study" is trying to prove. Do some people smoke and vape? Sure. Is this a necessity to study given the circumstances of this study? I don't think that should be the main topic for discussion.

If you were to do a study on the people that used to smoke and now vape exclusively, that would be a much better focal point, but still shouldn't be the main point. When it comes to the FDA and their possible regulations relying on this study, using people who are still smoking and vaping as a geiger counter for what should and shouldn't be banned, regulated, etc. doesn't seem like the best approach.

The Concept of, "Dual Users"

Like stated before, even the pure numbers of those who quit smoking because of vaping, etc. shouldn't be the main point of this study. The University of Wisconsin have already established the concept of this study; to give the FDA figures to help come up with regulations regarding vaping and the community that will be deeply impacted by said regulations. With that being said, wouldn't it be better to possibly track those who have decided to quit and then monitor their experience, cravings, health reports, etc. when the time comes? Why are we focusing on people that are jointly smoking and vaping? And if the study does focus on those who are quitting (much like my mom's stories) could there be a possibility to clarify this idea?

The study does say that the set schedule is to monitor those prospects to see what the outcome is over five years. Will these people quit smoking, will they continue to vape and smoke, will they vape exclusively, etc? Those points are very valid and I think the study should focus more on these aspects, but as you continue to read, you start to see that the primary focal point is, "dual users," those who continue to smoke and vape in tandum. Does that even make sense?

My Million Dollar Question

This is the thing that worries me... When it comes to these, "dual users," will the scientists conducting the blood work, etc take into account that these people are smoking cigarettes as well or will it be a big hogwash experiment where there will be a, "well, he's getting sick, must be from vaping," opinion? In the study, there will be 150 users that are smoking and 250 users that are, "dual users," and none that are just, "vapers." How does this make sense? You are going to collect medical data from subjects who are all smoking and combine that into a hodge podge mess of, "vapers." Well, I hope that isn't the case, but you never know with all of these studies that have been released in the past.Youth Using Cigarettes Because of Vaping???

The one part of the study that I truly don't understand is a quote from co-principal investigators himself, Doug Jorenby in which he says the following, “There have been a lot of concerns that kids who wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to nicotine have used e-cigarettes because they’re not thought to be risky... That will result in many kids ending up smoking cigarettes.”

Huh?? How does this even make sense? Let's go over some teenage facts here. It was not too long ago that I was a teenager. I remember being 15 with kids in my class snagging their parent's cigarettes, getting their brother/sister to buy it for them etc. If kids want to get their hands on illegal substances: weed, alcohol, cigarettes then they will find a way. Same goes for what I would assume, vaping (I wasn't a teen when it became popular so that part is pure conjecture.) Sure, there are consequences to anything revolving around nicotine, but how does vaping create a slippery slope to smoking for kids? Honestly, that statement doesn't make any sense. I don't pic up my mod and say, "No, not enough of a disgusting cigarette taste, better grab me a pack," and I would bet money that most people would agree with me.

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