The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that about 16 million children aged 17 or under have easy access to electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes are quite different than a traditional cigarette and throws out vapor instead of smoke. E-cigarettes meant as a cessation aid for smokers are gaining high popularity in many countries throughout the world including the U.S.
On Thursday, Dec. 11, the CDC released a report which indicated that 40 states in the U.S. have passed laws that prohibits selling electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), which includes e-cigarettes, to children aged 17 or under. However, 10 American states as well as the District of Columbia still permits the sale of ENDS to minors.
The CDC suggests that over 16 million children, that reside in these 10 states and the District of Columbia, have easy access to e-cigarettes. In 2013, data released by the National Youth Tobacco Survey suggested that 1.1 percent of the total middle school children and 4.5 percent of the high school goers had used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days.
Tim McAfee, director of CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, revealed that the federal agency is aware that e-cigarettes are not safe for minors.
"While ENDS may have the potential to benefit established adult smokers if used as a complete substitute for all smoked tobacco products, ENDS should not be used by youth and adult non-tobacco users because of the harmful effects of nicotine and other risk exposures, as well as the risk for progression to other forms of tobacco use," says McAfee.
The CDC suggests that 12 new laws regulating e-cigarettes have been passed in 40 states in 2013 and 16 laws passed so far in 2014. Anti-smoking advocacy organizations have called for stricter regulations of e-cigarettes in other states as well.
The CDC also suggests that even though e-cigarettes are promoted as anti-smoking aids, currently there is no evidence about smokers' quitting rate after using e-cigarettes.
Previous studies suggest that even though e-cigarettes are considered less harmful than traditional cigarettes, they can lead people to start smoking cigarettes in the future. The 2012 Surgeon General's Report reveals that around three in every four teen smokers became adult smokers.
Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a public workshop for two days to gather more information regarding e-cigarettes. Earlier this year, the FDA also proposed to add e-cigarettes to the list of tobacco products it regulates.
