Panel Concludes Vaping Could Be Addictive and a Smoking Gateway

A panel of public health professionals taken from across the US issued a report that concluded that vaping e-liquids containing nicotine could be addictive and may increase the likelihood that teenagers who use e-cigs can later start smoking traditional cigarettes. However, the devil is always in the details. The report of the panel admits that it wasn’t clear whether vaping simply created a need to try tobacco cigarettes or it fueled an urge to smoke. What isn’t strange is that people who vape can get addicted. Nicotine is addictive, so anyone consuming it is likely to get addicted at some point. The panel pointed out some gaps that called for further research, such as the long-term health effects of vaping. Their findings confirmed what has always been stated that vaping is safer than smoking traditional cigarettes. What remains to be seen is how the FDA will use the findings of this panel as it formulates policies and regulations affecting the vaping community.