As US moves to regulate e-cigarettes, Cdn expert says they help more than hurt

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The debate over e-cigarettes is heating up on both sides of the border.

Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration announced it would regulate the smoking alternative for the first time.

E-cigarettes with nicotine are technically illegal in Canada. But David Sweanor, a University of Ottawa law professor who works on tobacco and health issues, thinks the devices are better than things like the patch or nicotine gum.

“They give a small amount of nicotine on a slow uptake. You don’t get any of that hand-to-mouth stuff. I think they’ve been useful. I think they’ve helped a lot of people, but we’re now starting to see products that have potential to help many more.”

He believes there are a lot of misconceptions around the smoking cessation tool.

“A lot of organizations, including Health Canada, I believe are adding to the misinformation. They’re convincing smokers that these other products aren’t safe, so you may as well continue smoking, without saying, ‘Our best estimates [suggest they are] probably about 98 per cent less hazardous than cigarette smoking. It’s a huge difference.”

But critics say there’s not enough evidence of their effectiveness or safety and many think they help make smoking more socially acceptable.

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