E-cigarettes get FDA approval: 5 essential reads on the harms and benefits of vaping

  After being on the U.S. market for around 15 years, an e-cigarette has, for the first time, been authorized for sale by the Food and Drug Administration.

  The government agency announced on Oct. 12 that three products from the vaping company Vuse had been given the green light to be marketed, along with one device in which the approved cartridges are placed.

Rethinking Tobacco Policy: The federal government should stop blocking alternatives to smoking

  Cigarette smokers who are trying to quit smoking have many new and innovative options to help them break the habit. At least they do as of now. E-cigarettes, as well as even newer products which heat but do not burn tobacco, allow those who are unable or unwilling to quit using nicotine to dramatically reduce their exposure to the deadliest components of cigarettes, the products of combustion in the smoke.

  However, the federal government is about to prevent individuals who desperately want to stop smoking from having access to these options.

Craig Ford: We must demand warning labels for e-cigarettes

  Did you know that seven out of 10 children under the age of 17 are exposed to advertisements for e-cigarettes?

  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2014 more than 18 million middle and high school aged children in the United States were exposed to ads for e-cigarettes. Experts expect the e-cigarette industry to grow to $50 billion by 2025. E-cigarettes have become an increasingly popular product, used by almost 2.5 million people in the United States.

  E-cigarettes have been thought of as a tool to help smokers quit smoking or as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. But in reality, e-cigarettes are being used as a “gateway” to get our children addicted to the nicotine and, ultimately, on stronger tobacco products. E-cigarettes also still pose the same nicotine-related health risks as traditional cigarettes.