Looking through the e-cig haze

1. http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/san-marcos-buda-kyle/looking-through-the-e-cig-haze/

2. Category of Problem/Issue identified in article: immigration

3. Level of problem/issue: Local

4.A problem/issue that individuals/families face

5. Why this is important to individuals/families OR How does this affect individuals/families:

This is important to those individuals who use electronic cigarettes and think that it is safe.  They are affected because it is not really determined whether it is safer than regular cigarettes.

6. What are your views on the issue/policy?

My view is that there should be research done to state whether it is healthier or not.  In this article it talks about Lisa Ray, who had initially bought an electronic cigarette for her husband and in the end they both decided to open up an electronic cigarette store in March.  They both argue that vaporizers provide a healthier alternative to smoking regular cigarettes but they have also been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory disease as well as other conditions. Although in the long run, they do save smokers money,  Dr. Philip Huang is not persuaded by the benefits that are claimed.  Huang states that, "There's so much that's unknown about what's in those vapors.  It's not just water vapor.  When you're in the shower and there's steam, that's not how the vapor acts."  I definitely agree with Dr Huang because electronic cigarettes have become more of a trend than getting better "benefits" than cigarettes.  It has become the hip thing in Austin to smoke electronic cigarettes.  I think that there should be more information put out there on the actual benefits and what is in the vapor and flavors.  People need to know what the real benefits are for those that are oblivious.