A decade ago, no one had ever heard of e-cigarettes. Now, they have grown so common that it's the new "thing" among those who want to quit smoking. E-cigarettes emerged in the United States in 2007 as a modern alternative to traditional cigarettes. Since then, it has gained so much popularity that this product has reaped its own chain of problems.
According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, e-cigarette smoking has become an epidemic given the number of kids it has affected due to nicotine poisoning during the past three years. The National Poison Data System recorded an average of 729 calls per month related to tobacco and nicotine poisoning among kids of six years of age or younger.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration recoded that inquiries regarding e-cigarettes rocketed to over 1500 percent during the 40-month study. The study also revealed that kids exposed to e-cigarettes were five times as more likely to have been affected by nicotine poisoning as compared to kids exposed to regular cigarettes.
Facing twice the risk of being a victim to severe medical outcomes, one must ask why is the risk of e-cigarettes significantly greater? Why is it so obscured from the public eye?
According to the Times Union, the director of Injury Research and Policy at the Nationwide Children's Hospital, Dr. Gary Smith reported that 90 percent of the victimized children faced such consequences after ingesting liquid nicotine. E-cigarettes carry refill containers filled with liquid nicotine which can be fatally venomous for young children.
Much like other poisons, e-cigarettes should be kept somewhere inaccessible to children. Since liquid nicotine comes in various flavors quite appealing to young ones, it's not surprising why children want them so badly.
Technological methods of artificially solving addictions don't seem to be so effective despite their popularity. Instead, they have only increased the risk so far even for the user, who is ultimately taking in nicotine just like in a conventional cigarette. A nicotine gum might be a better alternative and parents should ensure to keep children away from all sorts of nicotine exposure.
