Are Electronic Cigarettes a Good Way to Quit Smoking?

 More laws are being passed on banning the use of cigarettes in both public and private places, but the addictive component is not so easy to ban, as nicotine is one of the most addictive substances in the world. Researcher Daniel McGehee gave a talk for the Neuroscience Seminar at Loyola University Chicago this past February and posted an article with Danyan Mao and Keith Gallagher titled: “Nicotine Potentiation of Excitatory Inputs to Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons.” The article discussed how "nicotine activates nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) to initiate a series of adaptive changes at the cellular and circuit levels in brain, particularly the ventral tegmental area" (Dao, Gallagher, McGehee). His research found that exposure to nicotine over longer periods of time induce a plasticity in the brain which makes the nicotine even more addictive than when it was initially exposed, even in small quantities.

As the dangers of prolonged use of tobacco have been publicized for years, many people have been attempting different methods of quitting to avoid lung cancer and other harmful diseases caused by smoking. In the past few years, the new Blu electronic cigarettes have been on the market to make it easier for people to quit cigarette smoking, as there is less nicotine in these vapor-producing devices. However, a concern has surfaced that perhaps the exact opposite may occur, making the Blue e-cigs a culprit behind the difficulty of quitting.

According to The Atlantic article "The Nicotine Fix," people think they are consuming a lot of nicotine with these e-cigs, however, there is only a small amount that will line a person's mouth and throat, which makes absorbing the nicotine into the bloodstream a slow process. People will use these e-cigs at work during periods where they can't actually smoke. "By sustaining their nicotine blood levels, the products will actually keep their addiction going, and they'll continue to use cigarettes the rest of the day. Were the alternative products not available, the argument goes, these smokers would be more likely to quit altogether. Research has established, for instance, that smoke-free workplace policies increase quitting" (Warner and Pollack). As McGehee had mentioned, longer exposure to the nicotine creates changes in the brain that produces greater pleasurable effects than the time before. People who smoke cigarettes are likely to use these electronic cigs at work in between their breaks, as there is not enough nicotine to stimulate their receptors and induce the excitatory synapse to the degree of regular cigarettes. There is also a concern by THR (Tobacco Harm Reduction) critics that using smokeless tobacco products will cause people who have quit to relapse, however there is not enough evidence to support these claims.  

If you are looking to quit cigarettes, it may be advisable to avoid the Blu e-cig. Better to stay safe than sorry.

Article: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/11/the-nicotine-fix/382666/

Pictures: https://www.google.com/search?q=blu+e+cig&biw=1152&bih=595&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4_LGZ45vLAhWkw4MKHfwJCx0Q_AUIBygC#imgrc=3jPn9u7anmdIeM%3A

https://www.google.com/search?q=cigarettes+in+workplace&biw=1152&bih=561&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBt4qO7JvLAhXFtYMKHThJCB8Q_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=cigarette+affecting+brain&imgrc=Zzg93LQ67WQCuM%3A

Citation:

Warner, Kenneth E., and Harold A. Pollack. "The Nicotine Fix." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 13 Nov. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.