E-Cigarettes become popular due to campus smoking ban
Since being introduced to the U.S. market in 2007, the electronic cigarette industry has become one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S.
According to “E-cigarette sales are smoking hot, set to hit $1.7 billion” a CNBC article published in August 2013, electronic cigarette sales had already reached over $1 billion. They have also become popular among 18-25 year olds, especially people who once smoked cigarettes, but also many who have never smoked.
The rise in electronic cigarette users at the University of South Dakota could be due, in part, to the smoking ban. You can also buy cigars from this online cigar shop
Students should have the freedom to use electronic cigarette on campus, simply because they emit vapor, not harmful smoke and do not effect bystanders.
For those unfamiliar with electronic cigarettes, an electronic cigarette, or E-cig, is defined as a battery-operated device which creates a vapor that is inhaled instead of smoke. Specifically, the battery powers a heating element called an “atomizer” which contains nicotine-infused liquid. The liquid, when heated, is then turned into vapor (Casaa.org).
As of now, USD’s smoking ban does not explicitly say anything regarding electronic cigarette use on campus.
USD Dean of Students Kim Grieve said the smoking ban includes E-cigarettes.
“USD is a smoke-free campus, which includes any cigarette related devices, such as electronic cigarettes,” she said. “The purpose of the smoking ban is to protect students health.”
Given the research she, and the Board of Regents have read, “results show that electronic cigarettes are not healthy.”
But according to a recent study found on Casaa.org by Igor Burstyn of the Drexler University School of Public Health, “The levels of contaminants E-cigarette users are exposed to are insignificant, far below that would pose any health risk.”
The study goes on to say there is also no health risk to bystanders.
When asked about the Drexler University study, Grieve replied, “I am not familiar with that study, but every study I have read points to the fact that electronic cigarettes are not healthy.”
While the USD smoking ban currently does not mention electronic cigarette usage on campus, at this point they are being grouped under the current smoking ban, which simply states, “Smoking is not permitted on the campus of the University of South Dakota. Signs stating the policy will be posted across campus.”
Senior Taelor Johnsen is an Addiction Studies major, and has been smoking cigarettes for about two years. She plans to quit soon, and may use an E-cigarette as a cessation aid.
Johnsen said the current smoking ban doesn’t, nor should, include E-cigarettes
“E-cigarettes should be allowed on campus as long as it doesn’t disrupt a class or function,” she said. “E-cigarettes emit vapor, not smoke, so there aren’t any negative health effects on anyone.”
Grieve said the Student Government Association is looking into adding electronic cigarettes to the existing ban, but that it may not happen this semester due to time constraints.
In the mean time, this leaves a lot of room for students to interpret the current smoking ban, and until there is something more explicitly stated, we are going to continue to see a rise in students using e-cigs on campus.
E-cigarettes can be an effective smoking cessation aid and do not have any negative health effects to bystanders.
Therefore, students should have the freedom to use E-cigarettes on campus, and they should not be banned under the USD smoking ban, or any other ban.
Follow Andy Schultze on Twitter @AndySchultze
