What Should We Tell Our Patients About E-cigarettes?

Excerpt

An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is a battery-powered device that uses heat to vaporize a solution (often nicotine in propylene glycol and/or glycerol). E-cigarettes are popular, available in many flavors, and can be purchased in convenience stores and on-line.1 There are at least three categories of e-cigarette consumers: smokers who plan to continue smoking but want to use e-cigarettes when smoking is not allowed; smokers who plan to use the e-cigarette to assist them in quitting or cutting-down on smoking; and a minority of non-smokers who want to try something new (the concern is that this group will include minors). Although there are several public health concerns associated with e-cigarettes, we will highlight the issues most salient to the conversations general internists might have with their patients who smoke. …