The New

Generation of

Tobacco Kelly McLaughlin, MPH, CHES

Dolores Vasquez, MPH

What is an E-Cigarette?

● E-Cigarettes are electronic

nicotine delivery systems.

● Battery-powered heating devices

● Designed to deliver nicotine to

users in the form of a vapor

(instead of smoke)

○ The vapor comes from

heating liquid nicotine and

flavoring.

How’s it different than a cigarette?

“E-juice”

• Liquid nicotine is a poison.

• Nicotine can be ingested

through the skin and mouth.

• Nicotine is highly addictive,

by activating areas of the

brain involving feelings of

pleasure (dopamine).

E-Cigaratte Vapor

E-Cig aerosol is NOT harmless

"water vapor"

• The aerosols from e-cigs emit lower levels of

dangerous toxins such as heavy metals, ultrafine

particulate, and cancer-causing agents.

• E-cig aerosols also contain propylene glycol or

glycerin and flavorings.

• Some e-cig manufacturers claim these ingredients

are safe because they meet the FDA definition of

“Generally Recognized as Safe.” (GRAS)

Poison Control

● As of May 31, 2015 Poison

Control has received 1,499 e-

cigarette devices and liquid

nicotine reported exposures for

2015.

● More than half of these

reported exposures have

occurred in young children

under the age of 6.

● 2 people have died from liquid

nicotine poisoning.

What we know about e-cigs...

• Use of e-cigs is

on the rise

What we know about e-cigs...

• Use is on the

rise, especially

in teens

E-Cig Use Among Youth

• Youth use of electronic cigarettes tripled

from 2013 to 2014 and, for the first time,

exceeds use of regular cigarettes.

• Approximately 2 million high school students

and 450,000 middle school students

currently use e-cigarettes.

Nicotine Addiction & Youth

Nicotine Addiction & Youth

• Nicotine is dangerous and highly addictive for kids

at any age because the brain is still developing.

• In addition to nicotine exposure, e-cig use can be

harmful due to the other chemicals present in e-cig

devices.

Dual Use

• The vast majority of current e-cigarette users

are also current smokers.

• More than three-quarters of youth (76.3%)

are current e-cigarette users are current

smokers.

• This raises additional concerns beyond the

potential health effects of e-cigarettes alone.

E-Cigarette Advertising

• Not subject to traditional tobacco advertising

bans

• 69% of high school students exposed to ads

FDA regulation

● E-Cigarettes are currently not regulated

● Proposed regulations include:

o Manufacturers of e-cigarettes would have to

provide detailed information of the products’

ingredients, how they are made, and go

through FDA inspection

● Many e-cigarettes and their parts are made

overseas.

Local Laws and Regulations

● In 2010, NJ’s Smokefree Air Act was revised to

include a ban on electronic smoking devices in

indoor public places and workplaces.

● Many NJ municipalities have banned the use of e-

cigarettes in city owned parks, playgrounds, and

outdoor recreation areas.

● Age of sale in NJ to purchase e-cigarettes is 19

(some municipalities have increased the age to 21).

Hookah

• Water pipe used to smoke

tobacco through cooled water.

• The tobacco is heated in the

bowl at the top.

• The smoke is filtered

through the water located at

the base of the hookah. • The water does not filter

cancer-causing toxins from

the smoke

Hookah

• Hookah smoke contains

higher levels of arsenic,

lead, nickel, tar and carbon

monoxide than a cigarette.

• A 45-60 minute session can

equal smoking nearly 100

cigarettes.

• Hookah is as addictive as

smoking traditional

cigarettes.

Hookah Popularity

• Hookah use among youth and college

students is increasing.

• 1 in 5 boys and 1 in 6 girls in high school

have used hookah.

• By college age, nearly 40% of students have

smoked hookah.

Hookah Lounges and Bars

• NJ’s Smoke-free Air

Act bans indoor

smoking indoor

public and

workplaces,

including

restaurants and

food stores.

Smokefree Teen

http://teen.smokefree.gov

SmokefreeTXT

• Free texting smoking cessation

program for young adults to try and quit

smoking

• Text QUIT to 47848

• Smokefree.gov/smokefreetxt

New Jersey Quitline

• Telephone based counseling for any NJ

resident 16 years or older • No parental consent needed to register for program

• 18 years or older qualify for free nicotine

patches

• 1-866-657-8677