Can e-cigarettes really help you quit smoking? How harmful are e-cigarettes to your health?

Every year, over 5 million people die from tobacco worldwide [Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. This is a preventable cause of death, so it's no surprise that when a new device that could help people quit smoking hits the market, many smokers are willing to give it a try. The latest device to make this claim is the e-cigarette.

In 2003, a Chinese company named Ruyan invented the e-cigarette, which first entered the U.S. market in 2007. Currently, e-cigarettes have garnered both friends and foes globally. But what’s the story?

Can they really help you quit smoking?

Supporters of e-cigarettes answer with a resounding yes, believing that e-cigarettes are better for their health and wallets than smoking. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other health organizations are not so sure. They want to learn more about the side effects of e-cigarettes, and some are calling for stricter regulations. Currently, e-cigarettes are not subject to U.S. tobacco laws because they do not contain tobacco, making them difficult to regulate and ensuring minors can access them.

So, what’s the bottom line of this new e-cigarette craze?

Well, this is where anecdotal evidence from e-cigarette manufacturers and users clashes with regulators and health experts. Both sides present some valuable points. Read on to see what they have to say.

Proponents of e-cigarettes argue that they can help people quit smoking and that e-cigarettes are healthier than regular cigarettes because they deliver nicotine through vapor rather than smoke. After all, the smoke produced by smoking has been proven to be one of the causes of cancer (Source: American Cancer Society). However, e-cigarettes do not expose consumers to the same toxic chemicals because they do not use tobacco or smoke to deliver nicotine to the lungs. Instead, the device heats a liquid nicotine solution, turning it into vapor for the user to inhale.

Many people seeking ways to quit smoking have started to embrace e-cigarettes, reporting that e-cigarettes have helped them quit or significantly reduce their tobacco cigarette use. E-cigarette supporters say that compared to regular cigarettes, they cough less, breathe easier, and enjoy the absence of smoke odor and cleaner teeth. Unlike nicotine replacement therapies like patches or gum, e-cigarettes also provide many of the same sensations and behaviors associated with regular smoking—operating the e-cigarette, inhaling, and exhaling vapor that looks like smoke. Nicotine pods even come in tobacco flavors, closer to the experience of “real” smoking, but consumers can also choose other flavors like chocolate or mint.

While some e-cigarette users continue to inhale secondhand smoke, many have completely changed their habits. Some smokers believe that while e-cigarettes have not been proven completely safe, the risk is worth it because the harmful effects of regular cigarettes are well-known. But are they making an informed decision, or are they simply trading one set of health risks for another?

Opponents of using e-cigarettes to quit smoking have a core concern: the lack of testing and research to prove that these products are effective and safe. While e-cigarette users do not inhale smoke, they are still inhaling an addictive substance—nicotine. It is a liquid form of nicotine that organizations like the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association state has not been adequately tested for safety [Source: World Health Organization and American Medical Association]. Health experts worry that e-cigarette users may be misled into thinking their choice is safe, while the effects of inhaling nicotine vapor, especially long-term effects, remain unclear.

Regulators and health agencies state that e-cigarettes may actually be harmful to those trying to quit smoking because smokers may choose these untested devices instead of those proven effective, such as nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, or nasal sprays. They are also concerned that overall nicotine consumption may increase because e-cigarettes are often used in places like offices, malls, restaurants, and even hospitals.

In September 2010, the FDA took action against e-cigarette companies—including E-CigaretteDirect, Ruyan America, and Johnson's Creek Enterprises—on the grounds that they violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) [Source: FDA]. The violations cited by the FDA included unverified claims about the devices and poor manufacturing practices. However, the FDA is willing to work with e-cigarette companies to conduct necessary research to prove that the devices are effective and safe. The idea of “buyer beware” certainly applies to e-cigarettes: cautious consumers may want to monitor the ongoing development of these products and hold off on trying the devices until more evidence is available.