Center for Tobacco Products News

They’re becoming a popular tool for smokers hoping to kick their habit, but health officials are advising against using electronic cigarettes. They say there are too many risks because the e-cigarettes are not FDA approved. But as YNN’s Katie Husband tells us, despite the potential risks, some smokers say they’re the best method they’ve tried.

That’s how Dustin Kirk felt after trying his first cigarette about ten years ago. But when his four-year-old son was born, that’s when he decided it was time to quit. He tried the gum and nicotine patches, but nothing worked until he heard about electronic cigarettes.

“Six months ago, one of my buddies really started trying it and it interested me. He said it really worked for him, it curbed his drive to try a full cigarette and everything, so I decided to try it,” said Kirk.

Kirk continued to use them in his efforts to quit, but it’s something health officials at the Tobacco Cessation Center at Arnot Health advise against.

“Some people use them as a cessation tool, but at the cessation center, we don’t recommend them because there’s more evidence based ways to help quit smoking,” said Amanda Domineske, Tobacco Cessation Center at Arnot Health coordinator.

The Food and Drug Administration did a study and found the battery operated devices still deliver nicotine and other harmful chemicals directly into the body.

“They’ve found that it releases a second hand vapor and there’s also a chemical found in there that is an ingredient that’s also found in antifreeze,” said Domineske.

Even though they’re not approved by the FDA, some e-cigarette users say they’re willing to take the risks to help them kick the habit.

“The way I feel after having a cigarette is not good. You kind of feel down-trodden and everything like that and with these e-cigarettes, it doesn’t necessarily make me feel like that,” said Kirk.

Kirk hopes to be completely done with all smoking, including e-cigarettes, by next year.