Vaping and nicotine are bad for health

In his recent 'War on Vapes” article, Adam Sullivan states 'Anti-vape advocates and their allies in the mainstream media have grossly misrepresented facts and figures about vaping ...” Ironically, he sounds like a Juul advertisement.

It is true that most of the individuals hospitalized in the vaping illness epidemic have been the result of additives, but not all. Since the introduction of vape products, advocates have warned of the health effects of vaping. Although we don't know the long-term effects, there is research showing nicotine damages the cardiovascular system. Chi-Ming Hai, professor of medical science at Brown University, described a connection between the nicotine and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arteries caused by smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Additionally, Dr. Eissenberg, professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University, said the amount of nicotine delivered in an e-cigarette or Juul cartridge can be many, many times higher than what a 2 pack per day smoker would receive. It's important to remember nicotine is not safe and it is highly addictive.

We cannot allow Juul to addict another generation of users to nicotine given the adverse effects it has on the cardiovascular system. What we do know is fully funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs, increasing the price of all nicotine products, banning flavored nicotine products, and banning the use of vapor products in public places will help us reduce this epidemic in our state.

Dr. Eileen Fisher

Solon