The Dangers of Quitting

Smoking can kill. So, can quitting be that bad? New Health Canada reports state that smoking cessation tools can have serious negative side-effects.

By Ethan W. Haslett

It's up to the consumer to decide which pack of risks they're willing to take.

Woodstock- Everyone knows about the risks associated with smoking.  Warnings are clearly stamped on each pack along with a discouraging picture resembling one of the disadvantages of inhaling the hazy smoke.

According to Health Canada the number of cigarette users in the country has gone up and down in recent years. Except for a one percent increase in male smokers in 2010, both teenage smokers and female smokers have dropped by at least 2%, according to Stats Canada. Many attribute this to the increase and availability of more smoking cessation tools.

One of the most popular tools for quitting in the United States and Canada is the new electric cigarette. Called E-cigs for short, electronic cigarettes produce white water vapour instead of the gray cloud usually seen. They may contain nicotine or other chemicals to dampen the effects of nicotine withdrawal.  

The biggest selling point and the one most advertised is the fact that they contain fewer dangerous chemicals. Drug companies also advertise that they can be used in smoke free environments.

E-cigs are made to mimic the look and feel of a real cigarette, causing confusion for business owners trying to decide whether patrons should be able to use them in their establishments. 

 “Well, first off people are gonna think they’re real, and we have a strict no smoking policy and we have to up-keep that image,” was the personal opinion of one Walmart supervisor.  

That’s not the only reason the government is discouraging Canadians from buying into the new E-cig fad. 

“Health Canada advises Canadians not to purchase or use electronic cigarettes as these products may pose health risks and have not been fully evaluated for safety, quality and efficacy by Health Canada,” said Olivia Caron, a media spokesperson for Health Canada.

 “To date, no rigorous scientific evidence has been submitted to Health Canada demonstrating the safety of an electronic cigarette product.”

Without concrete evidence of the safety and effectiveness of E-cigs, Health Canada advises consumers to talk to their doctor before buying them.  Health Canada fears that people, blinded by the fear of what smoking can do to, are blindly grasping at anything that might help them stop. They are concerned that consumers might not know that there are risks associated with the use of E-cigs.

“I wasn’t told about any health risks when I bought mine. In fact, it was quite the opposite, I was told that they were healthier for me,” said Taylor McConnell, an ex-smoker who used an E-cig to stop.

The risks associated with smoking are known, but the dangers of inhaling a chemical mix of water vapour isn’t. Very few brands of E-cigs have been cleared for sale in Canada, and even then it’s recommended that you talk to a doctor first. However, there are no pictures or warnings on the package.

Health Canada recommends that people on smoking cessation drugs should be closely watched by their friends, family and physician. Signs to look out for are: increased depression, aggression, and self-harm.