Email To The Ama

[Christopher]

So I found this letter on the other forum and thought I would share it here. It was sent by Vocalek to the American Lung Association

> -----Original Message-----

> From: VocalEK

> Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 2:17 PM

> To: Carrie Martin

> Subject: American Lung Association Mission

>

> Apparently the American Lung Association has lost sight of

> its real mission in its ill-advised campaign to stamp out

> electronic-cigarettes.

>

> The mission of the American Lung Association is to save

> lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.

>

> Nicotine is being studied for use in treating a multitude

> of disorders and prevention of such terrible diseases as

> Parkinson’s. Scientists now suspect that smokers who

> can’t quit require nicotine to keep neurobiological

> problems under control.

>

> Tens of thousands of smokers report being able to reduce or

> completely eliminate their use of smoked tobacco once they

> started using an electronic cigarette. The vast

> majority of these folks state that they are no longer

> coughing, wheezing, and/or hacking up phlegm. That

> sounds like an IMPROVEMENT in lung health to me.

>

> But the ALA wants electronic cigarettes banned.

>

> Most of the electronic cigarette users tried all of the

> FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products,

> but were not able to quit smoking with those products.

> This may be because the NRT products provide sub-therapeutic

> doses of nicotine. Perhaps one reason e-cigarettes

> succeeded where other products failed is because they

> provide enough nicotine to keep such conditions as

> depression, anxiety, and attention deficits under control.

>

> Still, the ALA wants electronic cigarettes banned.

>

> Many, many electronic cigarette users state that they will

> probably return to smoking tobacco if electronic cigarettes

> become unavailable.

>

> Nevertheless, the ALA wants electronic cigarettes banned.

>

> How many lives will be cut short if the ALA gets it

> way? How many more lives might have been saved if

> e-cigarettes remained available and more smokers were able

> to substitute them for their tobacco cigarettes?

>

> Explain to me, please, how the campaign against electronic

> cigarettes helps the ALA fulfill its mission.

THE ALA's RESPONSE

--- On Thu, 7/23/09, Carrie Martin <CMartin@lungusa.org> wrote:

> From: Carrie Martin <CMartin@lungusa.org>

> Subject: RE: American Lung Association Mission

> To: <VocalEK>

> Date: Thursday, July 23, 2009, 2:37 PM

> To clarify, we believe e-cigarettes

> are a "new drug," which require prior approval from the FDA

> before they are allowed to be sold. We are not asking

> that they be banned. For more information:

>

> Lung Association Urges FDA to Immediately Halt the Sale of

> Unapproved Products

>

> Statement of the American Lung Association:

>

> The American Lung Association applauds the Food and Drug

> Administration for its announcement today about

> e-cigarettes. FDA’s preliminary findings show e-cigarettes

> contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals, including

> ingredients found in antifreeze.

>

> For too long, e-cigarette manufacturers have sold these

> nicotine delivery devices – absent FDA review and

> approval. These findings indicate FDA is serious about

> enforcing the law to protect consumers from unapproved

> products.

>

> In light of these initial findings, the American Lung

> Association urges the FDA to act immediately to halt the

> sale and distribution of all e-cigarettes unless the

> products have been reviewed and approved for sale by the

> FDA.

>

*sigh*

[StringDancer]

From what I've seen of the FDA statements so far, it seems they do not address the efficacy of ecigs themselves much (if at all), but are taking issue with the detectable substances found in the e-juice that comes stock (which probably sucks).

Some of the ingredient issues may stem from the nicotine used in Chinese juice being derived from tobacco (which I believe is the case, no?). Johnson Creek now uses non-tobacco nicotine for their juice. I wouldn't be surprised to discover their juice does not suffer from the same issues the FDA is raising with regards Chinese juice.

Seems to me this may well boil down to a matter of quality control, and not so much on the process of vaporization itself.

[Christopher]

Good point. Perhaps I'll get on the ball with a couple Chinese manufactures and see what they say about that. Now that you mention it I don't think the Patch or the Gum use nicotine derived from tobacco either. Vacker this is where you come in, any idea what they use?