On May 31, 2023, I delivered an invited lecture to the Associação Brasileira de Estudos do Álcool e outras Drogas (Brazilian Association for the Study of Alcohol and Other Drugs) entitled “E-cigarettes: Harm enhancement and protection of global tobacco interests.” As the title indicates it is a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledgeContinue reading “Watch “E-cigarettes: Harm enhancement and protection of global tobacco interests””
Category Archives: e-cigarettes
First US study linking e-cig use to metabolic syndrome; dual use worse than smoking
The list of diseases associated with e-cigarette use keeps growing. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions characterized by abdominal obesity, abnormal blood lipids, elevated blood pressure, and elevated blood sugar. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and cancer among other outcomes. Earlier research from Korea found an association between e-cigaretteContinue reading “First US study linking e-cig use to metabolic syndrome; dual use worse than smoking”
FDA blocks some popular (but illegal) e-cigs at the border
Most e-cigarettes sold in the United States are imported (mostly from China). FDA has allowed these products to be imported and sold despite them lacking FDA authorization. Any and all e-cigarettes sold in the US without premarket authorization are illegal, although FDA has used its “enforcement discretion” to allow many to remain on the market.Continue reading “FDA blocks some popular (but illegal) e-cigs at the border”
Two new reviews summarize how e-cigs adversely affect the cardiovascular system
As with cigarette smoking, e-cigarettes have major adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. And, in contrast to cancer, these changes occur quickly. Two recent papers, Association of Electronic Cigarette Exposure on Cardiovascular Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Cardiovascular/Cardiometabolic Health, provide comprehensive summaries on the specific adverse biological effectsContinue reading “Two new reviews summarize how e-cigs adversely affect the cardiovascular system”
Any e-cig use among young smokers increases odds of smoking in late adolescence
While it is well-established that youth who initiate nicotine use with e-cigarettes are more likely to start smoking and that e-cigarettes are expanding nicotine addiction, no one had examined whether e-cigarette use promotes continued smoking among youth. Now Brian Kelly and colleagues have published a well-done paper addressing that question: E-cigarette use among early adolescentContinue reading “Any e-cig use among young smokers increases odds of smoking in late adolescence”
E-cig studies from England twice as likely to support e-cigs as studies from other countries
England is unquestionably the most pro-e-cigarette country on the planet, most recently evidenced by the fact that the government is giving away free e-cigarette starter kits to one million smokers despite the fact that e-cigarettes as consumer products don’t help smokers quit and may, in the long run, keep them smoking (even in England). TheContinue reading “E-cig studies from England twice as likely to support e-cigs as studies from other countries”
The 6-state Juul settlement includes some stronger provisions than earlier settlements
The latest settlements between six states (California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico and New York) and the District of Columbia and Juul, announced on April 11, 2023, mostly follows the earlier North Carolina settlement, but does include some stronger provisions, particularly compared to the earlier 33 state settlement. This summary is basedContinue reading “The 6-state Juul settlement includes some stronger provisions than earlier settlements”
Juul settlement should stop internet sales of Juul menthol pods in California
On April 11, 2023, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that he (and six other states) has settled litigation against Juul for money, making some of the Juul documents from discovery public, and an agreement by Juul to curb some specific marketing activities. I will be providing a detailed analysis of the settlement later, butContinue reading “Juul settlement should stop internet sales of Juul menthol pods in California”
Detailed changing use patterns of e-cigs and cigs shows harm enhancement for adults and youth
Until the advent of e-cigarettes nearly 20 years ago tobacco use patterns were pretty stable. Almost everyone who smoked tobacco smoked cigarettes with a few people smoking cigars. And some people used smokeless tobacco. With the advent of e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products, this situation has become much more complicated, particularly since some inContinue reading “Detailed changing use patterns of e-cigs and cigs shows harm enhancement for adults and youth”
Switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes does not reduce respiratory symptoms
Jonathan Berlowitz and colleagues’ new paper Cigarette‒E-cigarette Transitions and Respiratory Symptom Development adds to the already strong case that e-cigarette use increases the risk of respiratory symptoms and that dual use (using e-cigarettes while smoking cigarettes) is more dangerous than using either product alone. Most important, switching from cigarettes only to e-cigarettes only did notContinue reading “Switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes does not reduce respiratory symptoms”
Stanton Glantz blog 