There’s no question that a puff on an e-cigarette is less toxic than a puff on a regular cigarette. Studies have shown, however, that electronic cigarettes marketed as safer than regular cigarettes, deliver a mixture of toxic chemicals, including carcinogens, into the lungs. Scientists have begun to worry that teens might face harm from the nicotine and other substances in these products.
The Modern Drug Addiction
The U.S. government has recognized that drug addiction has changed drastically over the past few years. Now individuals who suffer from addiction are more apt to get their fix from going to their medicine cabinet as opposed to hitting the streets for illegal drugs like cocaine or heroin. In 2009, during the duration of one month more than 5 million Americans reported that they abused prescription painkillers such as Vicodin, OxyContin, Xanax or Valium. The director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy states, “We believe there are two unique reasons for the growth in prescription drug abuse – easy accessibility to the drugs and the diminished perception of risk.”