E-CIGS: Good move, Council

The Panhandle Health District (PHD) is highly supportive of the city of Coeur Alene's decision to ban the sale of electronic-cigarettes (e-cigarettes) to minors. Recently the PHD Board of Health proposed a resolution for a statewide ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. The state's seven health districts will take the resolution forward during the 2012 state Legislative session.

E-cigarettes are not regulated; they have not been evaluated for safety or effectiveness. In limited laboratory studies FDA found significant quality issues that tell us that quality control processes used in manufacturing e-cigarettes are substandard or non-existent. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has written a letter to multiple e-cigarette manufacturers warning them to cease making the unsubstantiated claim that e-cigarettes can be used as smoking cessation aids for any age. There are a number of FDA-approved smoking cessation aids, including nicotine gum, nicotine skin patches and nicotine lozenges. The list does not include e-cigarettes.

If you are interested in cutting down or quitting smoking, there is free help available. Please call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or call Linda Harder at 415-5143 at Panhandle Health District.

LORA WHALEN

Director

Panhandle Health District