Smoking cessation advocates criticize new products

Published : Wednesday, 16 Nov 2011, 11:15 PM CST

by Bill Keller / FOX 9 News

If you've ever told yourself you'll stop smoking tomorrow, Thursday may be your day. Millions are being encouraged to kick the habit -- at least for the day -- as part of the Great American Smoke Out. Experts say it takes more than willpower, but some new, smokeless tech may be helping.

There is no shortage of resources for smokers trying to quit, but one of them has faced resistance from anti-smoking groups, including the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association.

In the past few years, the number of people using electronic cigarettes has quadrupled, but the smokeless cigarettes are facing some stern opposition, with the Food and Drug Administration calling them "drug paraphernalia" that could be used as a "gateway" for nonsmokers. Critics also claim they reduce the incentive for people to quit.

Electronic cigarettes give users nicotine in a water vapor mist, removing harmful components that come with smoking, like smoke and tar -- but they are not regulated by the FDA.

"It lights up just like a regular cigarette -- tip lights up," said Inder Bhatia, of Maharajas. "It feels exactly like smoke."

The new gadgets let people get their nicotine fix in places where smoking is not allowed, and cartridges containing different amounts of nicotine can be purchased, so they can be used by smokers to wean themselves off the addictive chemical.

Dr. Marc Manley, chief prevention officer with Blue Cross Blue Shield, says nearly half of all smokers try to quit each year, but research shows less than 5 percent are able to break the addiction.

"If a person is going to relapse, it's typically in that first 48 hours," Manley said. "If you want to quit, use the medications that have been shown to work."

Manley still recommends his patients nicotine patches and gum to quit, but an Italian study of serious smokers showed that e-cigarettes cut their usage of regular cigarettes by at least 50 percent.

Still, even though the devices remove carcinogens, many feel they need more research and regulation because there is no evidence that they don't pose a new health risk.

"Unfortunately, we don't really know what e-cigarettes do to people," Manley said. "We don't know if they're harmful to people. We don't even really know what's inside them."

Smoking kills more than 5,000 Minnesotans each year and costs $3 billion in related health expenses. Anyone trying to quit is encouraged to call Minnesota's QuitPlan hot line at 1-888-345-PLAN.

Read more: E-Cigarettes Gain Steam before Great American Smoke Out