Thoughts on Senator Perdue’s Reply to My Email

Dear Mr. Borrego: 

          Thank you for contacting me regarding electronic vaping products. I always appreciate the opportunity to hear from my fellow Georgians. 

          Because the widespread use of electronic cigarettes and other vaporizers is fairly new, the potential health risks that may be associated with these products is not yet known. However, I understand that the use of vaporizers has helped many individuals overcome difficult addictions to tobacco. 

          While it is imperative to ensure the safety of these products, it is also important to avoid creating burdensome regulations that are more harmful than helpful. As the Senate considers legislation regarding these products, I will be sure to keep your comments in mind. 

           Again, thank you for taking the time to share your opinion about this issue. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if I can be of further assistance. 

Kindest regards,
 
David Perdue
United States Senator

“While it is imperative to ensure the safety of these products, it is also important to avoid creating burdensome regulations that are more harmful than helpful” (Perdue). A statement made by Senator Perdue is the perfect reflection of the ignorance surrounding vaping and its harmful effects. It is largely assumed that e-cigarettes have done more good than harm, which is completely untrue. The main purpose of e-cigarettes, at first, was to help adult smokers quit tobacco use. However, e-cigarette companies such as JUUL have begun advertising with teens and young adults in mind. According to the 2017 Youth National Tobacco Survey, 11.7 percent of high school students and 3.3 percent of middle school students used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days, compared to 2011 when 1.5 percent of high school students and 0.6 percent of middle school students reported e-cigarette use. This statistic shows a very large increase in the number of teens who have begun to vape. These teens are not using e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking. A 2015 report from the National Health Interview Survey states that 40 percent of young adults who use e-cigarettes every day or some days were never smokers before trying e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes do the exact opposite of their intended purpose, in terms of teens and young adults. The 2018 NASEM report concluded that, “there is substantial evidence that e-cigarette use increases risk of ever using combustible tobacco cigarettes among youth and young adults.” Senator Perdue obviously does not believe in the safety of all citizens in the United States. He states, “I understand that the use of vaporizers has helped many individuals overcome difficult addictions to tobacco.” He refuses to look at teens and young adults who are being negatively affected by e-cigarettes. Because of the rising amount of teens and young adults who have begun to vape, there is no reason why there shouldn’t be legislation over e-cigarette products. These regulations will make the distribution of these potentially dangerous products much stricter, decreasing the amount of non-smokers who could get their hands on these products. Senator Perdue describes these potentially beneficial regulations as “more harmful than helpful”, which could be linked to tobacco companies financing his political operation. According to OpenSecrets.org, David Perdue received $29,700 from the tobacco industry in 2014, and this is only as far as we know. There could be even more.

In addition to more teens and young adults using e-cigarette products, these products can be very toxic. On the contrary to Senator Perdue’s viewpoint, “Because the widespread use of electronic cigarettes and other vaporizers is fairly new, the potential health risks that may be associated with these products is not yet known.” E-cigarettes have been proven to have detrimental effects on the human body. These effects include increased blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate, which increases the risk of a heart attack. These effects stem from the aerosol released by the e-cigarette which stimulates the adrenal glands, releasing adrenaline. Many e-cigarettes have nicotine, which is a drug as addictive as cocaine and other illegal drugs. Nicotine is a silent killer. “Tobacco claims more lives in one year than HIV, car accidents, and gun related deaths combined.” (tobaccofreelife.org) Nicotine has been shown to increase clotting, heart disease, cause bronchospasm, cause insulin resistance, cause gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcer disease and cancer. Nicotine has been proven to change brain chemistry and cause psychoactive effects, compulsive use, quick relapse, drug-reinforced behavior, tolerance, and physical dependence. In addition, there are countless chemicals which are found in vaping juices and countless others which are created in the heating process. Many of these chemicals are carcinogenic and I am not sure what kind of human being would dare to say that inhaling known carcinogenic chemicals is not harmful to a teens developing body. The FDA does not regulate the e-cigarette industry. This means there is no standard or quality control in this industry. A study at the University of California San Francisco examined nicotine free e-cigarettes and found cancer causing chemicals in the urine of teens that vape. Studies have shown that diacetyl, a flavoring found in e-juice, causes popcorn lung. Popcorn lung is a serious lung disease that damages the smallest airways and causes shortness of breath and cough. Join the movement, together let’s fight the tobacco and e-cigarette industry. They should not be advertising to the youth of today, they should have to undergo strict regulations to make healthier vaping alternatives, and not just another type of addictive and toxic nicotine containing product. The whole point was to help adults quit smoking. Not create a new industry that uses nicotine and its addictive properties to lure life long customers who will pay a hefty price with their health due to e-cigarettes harmful effects.