A new study published in the April issue of Tobacco Control gives evidence that that electronic cigarettes may be effective in suppressing the desire to smoke. It found that they worked in a way similar to nicotine inhalers, but were more pleasant to use because of decreased side effects. Though the study’s sample size of forty smokers is small, it did conclude that E-Cigarettes alleviated desire to smoke after overnight abstinence, were well tolerated, and had a pharmacokinetic profile more like the Nicorette inhalator than a tobacco cigarette.

This study is one more reason for the FDA to assert jurisdiction over E-Cigarettes, to get manufacturers to disclose all product information, and to conduct the research necessary to show the product’s public health value. Only further research will answer the question of the product’s long term safety and overall potential as an effective smoking cessation strategy. 

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/19/2/98.abstract

(Bullen C, McRobbie H, Thornley S, Glover M, Lin R, Laugesen M. Effect of an electronic nicotine delivery device (e cigarette) on desire to smoke and withdrawal, user preferences and nicotine delivery: randomised cross-over trial. Tobacco Control 2010; 19:98-103).