Electronic Cigarette Workshop Information
Fr. Jack Kearney, M.Div., CATC IV
(to request the powerpoint or get research citations)
fatherhugs.com (if you want the powerpoint email me above and download here)
E-Cig City:
For reviews: youtube.com (products, juices, etc.) If you want to see some of the same material from the workshop do a search for: harm reduction Fr. Jack
Lots of connections with the e-cig community. My favorite: vapersplace.com Great podcasts and live audio and video shows. Vapeteam show on Wednesday nites is a great place for newcomers to win free kits and liquids.
Best single website for information, discussions, help with vaping: Electronic Cigarette Forum:
Suggestion for newcomers: they are more likely to stick with vaping if they get a system with easy, dependable equipment and e-liquid they like. Urge them to pick a date, get the equipment in advance, and have support set up (friends, vapers, Nicotine Anonymous, 800-NO-BUTTS, etc.). Some do better by vaping and smoking at the same time, and slowly cut down on the smokes.
Best way to prepare: Go to a store that specializes in e-cigs. The staff will patiently show them different options for a beginners kit (with at least 2 batteries) and let them try some different flavors. A current list of stores is below. The list is always growing, so check with yelp.com for latest.
Second best: order off the internet. I suggest at least 2 batteries (EGO, KGO or 510; EGO Twist if they can afford a little more. Charger. Vivi Nova tank, and 2-3 e-liquids that sound good. Really better to go to a store.
Last resort: disposables from 7-11 or walmart. Avoid ecigs from the mall or “free” offers in email.
Good website for beginners: hit the “getting started” button on also lots of youtube videos for beginners
For more information on harm reduction, research, and the political struggle to fight ecig bans go to:
casaa.org
Remember: we don’t advocate that ecigs are perfectly safe (need more research!), just that they are 500-1000 times safer than smoking.
Some Brick-and-Mortar E-cig Shops; check yelp.com for updates; more opening constantly
1. Vapor Labs 11602 Knott St Garden Grove, CA 92841 (714) 891-6537 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
2. VapeRevolution 15971 S Piuma Ave Cerritos, CA 90703 (562) 653-4730 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
3. The Smokeshop 23836 Crenshaw Blvd Torrance, CA 90505 (310) 530-1200 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
4. Seal Beach Corner Shop 1190 Pacific Coast HwySeal Beach, CA 90740 (562) 296-8503 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
5. HB Tobacco 18635 Beach BlvdHuntington Beach, CA 92648 714) 847-6268 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
6. It Is Vapor 3 2048 W Lincoln Ave Anaheim, CA 92801 (714) 512-5829 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
7. Vapure 909 South Coast HwyOceanside, CA 92054 (619) 309-8654 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
8. E-Cig City 1970 S Coast HwyLaguna Beach, CA 92651 (949) 715-5100 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
9. VAPE ON Electronic Cigarette 633 S San Gabriel BlvdSan Gabriel, CA 91776 (626) 213-3286 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
10. Burning Earth Smoke Shop 103 W Foothill BlvdMonrovia, CA 91016 (626) 932-1995 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
11. Vape On 2 ElectronicCigarettes3714 N Figueroa StLos Angeles, CA 90065 (323) 632-4366 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
12. The Vapor Spot 2378 Westwood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064 (310) 280-9652 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
13. Smoke Hot 5116 Inglewood AvenueLawndale, CA 90260 (310) 263-7888 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
14. Venice Smoke Free Life 517 Ocean Front WalkVenice, CA 90291 (310) 450-3934 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
15. Smokes Plus 12041 Riverside Dr1Valley Village, CA 91607 (818) 505-8184 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
16. Crown Tobacco 4950 W 190th StTorrance, CA 90503 (310) 214-0514 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
17. Quit By Smoking Culver City 12118 1/2 W Washington Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90066 (323) 521-9733 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
18. E-Cig City (north) 11811 CarsonHawaiian Gardens 562-860-8311
19. Pacific Coast Smoke & Gifts 17404 Beach BlvdHuntington Beach, CA 92647 (714) 596-5559 begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
20. Vix Vapes 239 Avenida Del Mar San Clemente 92672 949- 481-2777
Some science:
Zachary Khan and Michael Siegel.Electronic cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy for tobacco control: A step forward or a repeat of past mistakes?Journal of Public Health Policy advance online publication 9 December 2010; doi: 10.1057/jphp.2010.41
"The issue of harm reduction has long been controversial in the public health practice of tobacco control. Health advocates have been reluctant to endorse a harm reduction approach out of fear that tobacco companies cannot be trusted to produce and market products that will reduce the risks associated with tobacco use. Recently, companies independent of the tobacco industry introduced electronic cigarettes, devices that deliver vaporized nicotine without combusting tobacco. We review the existing evidence on the safety and efficacy of electronic cigarettes. We then revisit the tobacco harm reduction debate, with a focus on these novel products. We conclude that electronic cigarettes show tremendous promise in the fight against tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. By dramatically expanding the potential for harm reduction strategies to achieve substantial health gains, they may fundamentally alter the tobacco harm reduction debate."
Etter JF, Bullen C.Electronic cigarette: users profile, utilization, satisfaction and perceived efficacy.Addiction2011DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03505.x.
"Findings.There were 3587 participants (70% former tobacco smokers, 61% men, mean age 41 years). The median duration of electronic cigarette use was 3 months, users drew 120 puffs/day and used 5 refills/day. Almost all (97%) used e-cigarettes containing nicotine. Daily users spent $33 per month on these products. Most (96%) said the e-cigarette helped them quit smoking or reduce their smoking (92%). Reasons for using the e-cigarette included the perception it was less toxic than tobacco (84%), to deal with craving for tobacco (79%) and withdrawal symptoms (67%), to quit smoking or avoid relapsing (77%), because it was cheaper than smoking (57%) and to deal with situations where smoking was prohibited (39%). Most ex-smokers (79%) feared they might relapse to smoking if they stopped using the e-cigarette. Users of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes reported better relief of withdrawal and a greater effect on smoking cessation than those using non-nicotine e-cigarettes.
Conclusions.E-cigarettes were used much as people would use nicotine replacement medications: by former smokers to avoid relapse or as an aid to cut down or quit smoking. Further research should evaluate the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes for administration of nicotine and other substances, and for quitting and relapse prevention."
McQueen A, Tower S, Sumner W.Interviews With "Vapers": Implications for Future Research With Electronic Cigarettes. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2011. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntr088.
"Methods: Participants attended a convention or club meeting in St. Louis, MO, and were interviewed individually or in small groups. Qualitative methods were used to analyze interview data for both deductive and emergent themes to broad research questions.
Results: Even with a relatively small sample of formal participants (N = 15), there were pervasive themes including the language and culture of vaping; social and informational support among vapers and their use of Internet resources (learning about e-cigs); the learning curve to using e-cigs and the numerous modifications ("mods???) available for e-cigs and personal vaporizers; motives and perceived benefits of using e-cigs versus cigarettes including cigarette-like enjoyment, cost, restored sense of taste and smell, and improved breathing and exercise tolerance; rapidly reduced nicotine tolerance and dependence; and a strong interest in e-cig??“related research and policy. "
Siegel MB, Tanwar KL, WoodKS.Electronic cigarettes as smoking cessation tool: Results from an Online Survey. American Journal of Preventive Medicine2011 Apr; 40(4):472-5.
"This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation using a survey of smokers who had tried e-cigarettes. Using as a sampling frame a cohort of all first-time purchasers of a particular brand of e-cigarettes during a 2-week period, a cross-sectional, online survey was conducted. The primary finding was that the 6-month point prevalence of smoking abstinence among the e-cigarette users in the sample was 31.0% (95% CI=24.8%, 37.2%). A large percentage of respondents reported a reduction in the number of cigarettes they smoked (66.8%) and almost half reported abstinence from smoking for a period of time (48.8%). Those respondents using e-cigarettes more than 20 times per day had a quit rate of 70.0%. Of respondents who were not smoking at 6 months, 34.3% were not using e-cigarettes or any nicotine-containing products at the time. Findings suggest that e-cigarettes may hold promise as a smoking-cessation method and that they are worthy of further study using more-rigorous research designs."
Bullen C, et al. Bullen C, et al.Effect of an electronic nicotine delivery device (e cigarette) on desire to smoke and withdrawal, user preferences and nicotine delivery: randomised cross-over trial.Tobacco Control. 2010 Apr;19(2):98-103.
OBJECTIVES: To measure the short-term effects of an electronic nicotine delivery device ("e cigarette", ENDD) on desire to smoke, withdrawal symptoms, acceptability, pharmacokinetic properties and adverse effects.
PARTICIPANTS: 40 adult dependent smokers of 10 or more cigarettes per day.
INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomised to use ENDDs containing 16 mg nicotine or 0 mg capsules, Nicorette nicotine inhalator or their usual cigarette on each of four study days 3 days apart, with overnight smoking abstinence before use of each product.
RESULTS: Over 60 min, participants using 16 mg ENDD recorded 0.82 units less desire to smoke than the placebo ENDD (p=0.006). No difference in desire to smoke was found between 16 mg ENDD and inhalator. ENDDs were more pleasant to use than inhalator (p=0.016) and produced less irritation of mouth and throat (p<0.001). On average, the ENDD increased serum nicotine to a peak of 1.3 mg/ml in 19.6 min, the inhalator to 2.1 ng/ml in 32 min and cigarettes to 13.4 ng/ml in 14.3 min.
CONCLUSIONS: The 16 mg Ruyan V8 ENDD alleviated desire to smoke after overnight abstinence, was well tolerated and had a pharmacokinetic profile more like the Nicorette inhalator than a tobacco cigarette. Evaluation of the ENDD for longer-term safety, potential for long-term use and efficacy as a cessation aid is needed. Trial registration No.12607000587404, Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register."
Dr. Thomas Eissenberg, Virginia Commonwealth University
A Clinical Laboratory Model for Evaluating the Acute Effects of Electronic "Cigarettes": Nicotine Delivery Profile and Cardiovascular and Subjective Effects
This study illustrates how clinical laboratory methods can be used to understand the acute effects of these and other PREPs for tobacco users. The results and methods reported here will likely be relevant to the evaluation and empirically based regulation of electronic cigarettes and similar products.
9/2012
Consumer Advocates for Smoke‐free Alternatives Association
Electronic Cigarette FAQs
What is an electronic cigarette?
A device that uses a small battery and a heater, called an atomizer, to vaporize a nicotine solution for inhalation.
Are electronic cigarettes for quitting smoking?
Electronic cigarettes are intended as an alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes. They are not designed to treat nicotine
addiction, only provide nicotine in a safer manner. However, many experts agree that switching to electronic cigarettes is almost as good as quitting smoking. Additionally, some people have reportedly used the reduced nicotine levels available to wean themselves off of nicotine altogether and now use 0mg nicotine liquid.
What is in the liquid?
Most contain propylene glycol (a non-toxic, liquid base), nicotine, glycerin and food flavoring.
Is it safe?
While nothing is 100% safe and further testing needs to be done regarding long-term use, based on the fact that they contain only ingredients already shown to be safe for human consumption and research studies show that they do not contain most of the toxins or levels of carcinogens that are found in tobacco cigarettes, we are reasonably certain they are considerably safer than tobacco cigarette smoking.
The American Association of Public Health Physicians (AAPHP) supports the use of electronic cigarettes as a reduced harm tobacco product. The AAPHP released a statement that electronic cigarettes “could save the lives of 4 million of the 8 million current adult American smokers who will otherwise die of a tobacco-related illness over the next 20 years."
Doesn’t nicotine cause cancer?
Nicotine is an addictive stimulant, similar to caffeine and is not shown to cause cancer. Although nicotine use carries other
possible health risks, without the tobacco smoke, it is relatively low risk.
Didn’t the FDA say electronic cigarettes are dangerous and banned them?
The FDA tested 18 samples and found that a few had trace amounts of possible cancer-causing nitrosamines, which were found only at parts-per-billion. The FDA allows certain levels of nitrosamines in products. Independent testing showed that the levels of nitrosamines were nearly identical to those found in FDA-approved nicotine patches. They also found that one cartridge was contaminated with “about 1% diethylene glycol,” however subsequent tests have found no other contaminated cartridges to date.
Because consumers have reported that switching to e-cigarettes have allowed them to refrain from smoking, the FDA asserts that electronic cigarettes are a nicotine cessation treatment and therefore drugs. While the FDA has been confiscating e-cigarette shipments, they have not been legally banned. A federal judge recently ruled that the FDA is overstepping its authority and agreed with the AAPHP that they are a reduced-harm tobacco product. The D.C. Federal Appeals Court subsequently upheld that ruling.
The AAPHP has also petitioned the FDA to retract their misleading statements about electronic cigarettes and allow them to be marketed as reduced harm tobacco products.
Can I use electronic cigarettes anywhere I want?
That depends on the laws of your state and the establishment. Some business may not allow you to use the devices in their establishment, as is their right. Some states are trying to not only include electronic cigarettes in indoor smoking bans, but ban them altogether. CASAA is fighting these proposed bans.
Find out more at
8 Biggest Electronic Cigarette Myths
There are many myths and misconceptions about electronic cigarettes. Let's separate fact from fiction.
Myth #1 ‐ Electronic cigarettes are a threat to children/teens. FALSE.
Where it comes from:
Legislators and anti‐smoking groups assume that children will be drawn to the “electronic gadgets,” the
fruit/candy flavors and ease of access on the internet & mall kiosks.
Why it’s a wrong:
First, they aren’t easy to purchase on the internet. A credit card or bank account is required. So, unless the
child steals a parent’s credit card and then hides the card statement later on, the risk of being discovered is
high. The majority of kiosk vendors have already implemented a policy of forbidding sales to minors. The
opportunity for minors to purchase electronic cigarettes at those kiosks is no better than purchasing tobacco
cigarettes at a gas station – probably less.
Second, the least expensive electronic cigarette starter kits run between $35 ‐ $50 (plus shipping) online and
$90 ‐ $150 at mall kiosks. This price point is considerable for the average adult, let alone a child. Children
would be more likely to spend that money on music, clothes or video games than an electronic cigarette –
especially when they can easily get a $7 pack of cigarettes at the corner store or from friends. Electronic
cigarettes also require the additional purchases of accessories and replacement parts. A single battery costs
over $10. Heating elements, which require frequent replacement, cost over $8 each.
Third, anecdotal accounts indicate that children/teens view electronic cigarettes as a way for adults to quit
smoking. They lack the “danger factor,” which reduces appeal. Additionally, surveys of electronic cigarette
owners show that the average consumer is overwhelmingly between 30‐50 years old and a smoker1, indicating
that even young adults do not find them particularly appealing.
Myth #2 ‐ Sweet flavors and flashy packaging are intended to specifically attract young people. FALSE. Where it comes from:
The assumption by critics that the slick advertisements and fruity flavors only appeal to children and their lack
of knowledge of the target consumer and the intended purpose of the product.
Why it’s wrong:
These products are not intended to be a treatment for nicotine addiction. They are intended to be a way for
current smokers to “smoke” without the dangerous toxins and carcinogens. Retailers need to differentiate
themselves from stop‐smoking aids, to convince long‐time smokers that the electronic cigarette is just as
appealing as the tobacco cigarette they currently use.
Just as with marketing cars, televisions, cell phones, alcohol and other adult products, advertisers attempt to
make the devices appeal to adults with a “coolness factor.” Studies show that "smokers are more likely than
the general population to be risk‐taking, extroverted, defiant, and impulsive"7 ‐ very similar to teen
demographics ‐ so the misconception is understandable, but misguided. Often overlooked by critics in these
ads are the claims about the ability to “smoke anywhere” and have a safer/healthier option to smoking – a
clear indication that they are targeting current smokers and smokers concerned about their health and not
new/young smokers.
Regarding sweet flavors, the tobacco‐flavored liquid does not have a pleasant taste for many smokers, as it is
difficult to replicate the tobacco smoke taste. Adults, who make up the majority of electronic cigarette
consumers, specifically requested alternative flavors that would work well with the liquid base – which were
mostly sweeter fruit and candy flavors. About 50% of adult electronic cigarette owners polled (over the age of
26)1 report that they primarily use these non‐tobacco flavors and attribute them with the ability to keep them
from returning to tobacco cigarettes. They also testify that the sweeter flavors make tobacco cigarettes taste
particularly foul and further reduce their chances of returning to smoking cigarettes.
Myth #3 ‐ Electronic Cigarettes all contain anti‐freeze. FALSE. Where it comes from:
In 2009, the FDA released a press statement claiming that they tested electronic cigarettes and found
diethylene glycol, an ingredient in anti freeze.2
Why it’s wrong:
Independent labs extensively tested other electronic cigarettes and found no evidence of diethylene glycol,
the toxic component of anti‐freeze claimed to have been found in the brands the FDA tested.3
To further the confusion, electronic cigarette liquid is made of propylene glycol, an ingredient recognized as