Appeal and risks of the new phenomenon
In recent years, local communities have seen a host of hazy new businesses open. Stores selling vaporizers and related products have appeared all over the country to keep up with the popularity of these new nicotine inhalant products. Some say vaporizers can be used to help people who are addicted to nicotine quit. Others claim that they are a gateway drug that leads non-smokers – especially young ones – into nicotine addiction. This month, Lake Martin Living peers through the smoke that surrounds this divisive issue.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmr9:?6D6 A92C>24:DE w@? {:< :D 4C65:E65 H:E9 :?G6?E:?8 E96 7:CDE 6=64EC@?:4 4:82C6EE6 :? a__b[ C6A@CE65=J 27E6C =@D:?8 9:D 72E96C E@ =F?8 42?46C] %96 >2C<6E 7@C 6=64EC@?:4 4:82C6EE6D W4@>>@?=J 42==65 6\4:8DX 2?5 @E96C EJA6D @7 6=64EC@?:4 ?:4@E:?6 56=:G6CJ DJDE6>D Wt}s$X 6IA2?565 C2A:5=J 7C@> E96C6[ H:E9 E96 AC@5F4ED 2AA62C:?8 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :? a__e]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm!6CD@?2= G2A@C:K6CD 92G6 364@>6 2 A@AF=2C 7@C> @7kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?m t}s$] '2A@C:K6CD @776C FD6CD 2 H:56 G2C:6EJ @7 7=2G@CD – 7C@> 3F33=68F> E@ ?249@ 4966D6 – 2D H6== 2D E96 23:=:EJ E@ 4@?EC@= E96:C ?:4@E:?6 :?E2<6 3J DH:E49:?8 @FE E96 7=F:5D :? E96:C G2A@C:K6CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 6IA=@D:G6 DF446DD @7 E96 G2A:?8 :?5FDECJ 92D =65 >2?J >2?F724EFC6CD 2?5 5:DEC:3FE@CD E@ 4=2:> 6\4:8D 2?5 G2A@C:K6C AC@5F4ED 2 D276C @C =6DD 255:4E:G6 7@C> @7 ?:4@E:?6 :?92=2?E[ @C E92E E96J 4@F=5 96=A A6@A=6 BF:E D>@<:?8 >@C6 62D:=J E92? E96 EC25:E:@?2= ?:4@E:?6 8F>D 2?5 A2E496D] %96 (@C=5 w62=E9 ~C82?:K2E:@? 92D 4C24<65 5@H? @? E96D6 4=2:>D[ @C56C:?8 >2C<6E6CD E@ C6>@G6 2?J DF886DE:@?D E92E G2A:?8 4@F=5 36 FD65 E@ 96=A A6@A=6 BF:E D>@<:?8 4:82C6EE6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 32EE=6 @G6C G2A@C:K6C 962=E9 4=2:>D 92D C2865 6G6C D:?46[ H:E9 3@E9 D:56D AF3=:D9:?8 DF49 4@?7=:4E:?8 C6A@CED E92E 6G6? D@>6 >65:42= AC@76DD:@?2=D 2C6 F?DFC6 @7 E96 C:D<D @7 G2A:?8 G6CDFD D>@<:?8 4:82C6EE6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“#:89E ?@H[ G2A:?8 :D D@ ?6H E96C6 92D?’E 366? >F49 52E2 AF3=:D965j E96C6 2C6 ?@ 567:?:E6 DEF5:6D @FE[” D2:5 sC] y@9? p52>D @7 %@E2= w62=E942C6 :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmsC] p52>D D2:5 E92E[ 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 AC@G6? 4@??64E:@? 36EH66? 4:82C6EE6D 2?5 962=E9 AC@3=6>D[ DF49 2D =F?8 42?46C 2?5 9:89 3=@@5 AC6DDFC6[ G2A:?8 D66>D E96 =6DD6C @7 EH@ 6G:=D] qFE D>@<6CD E9:?<:?8 @7 >2<:?8 E96 DH:E49 D9@F=5 C6>6>36C E92E G2A:?8 DE:== 6IA@D6D E96 =F?8D E@ ?:4@E:?6[ 2D H6== 2D E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C :==?6DD6D E92E 92G6 J6E E@ 36 :56?E:7:65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“u:G6 @C `_ J62CD 5@H? E96 =:?6[ H9@ <?@HD H92E 962=E9 AC@3=6>D 4@F=5 2C:D6 E92E H6 5@?’E <?@H 23@FE J6E[” p52>D D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmpD 72C 2D G2A:?8 7@C D>@<:?8 46DD2E:@?[ p52>D D2:5 96 36=:6G6D DF446DD :D =6DD 23@FE H96E96C E96 D>@<6C FD6D 2 G2A@C:K6C[ ?:4@E:?6 A2E49 @C 2?J @7 E96 @E96C 46DD2E:@? AC@5F4ED @? E96 >2C<6E[ 2?5 >@C6 23@FE A6CD@?2= 4@?G:4E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“s:D4:A=:?6 :D E96 3:886DE E9:?8[” 96 D2:5] “x7 J@F 5@?’E 92G6 5:D4:A=:?6 2?5 5C:G6[ J@F’C6 ?6G6C 8@:?8 E@ BF:E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp44@C5:?8 E@ t55J q@H>2?[ @H?6C @7 (:=5 '2A6CD @? p:CA@CE sC:G6 :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ[ E96 962=E9 C:D<D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 G2A:?8 A2=6 :? 4@>A2C:D@? E@ E9@D6 @7 4:82C6EE6D 2?5 @E96C EC25:E:@?2= E@3244@ AC@5F4ED] q@H>2? FD65 G2A:?8 E@ 96=A 9:> 5C@A 2 564256D\=@?8[ EH@\A24<\2\52J 4:82C6EE6 923:E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 BF:E D>@<:?8 2D D>@<6CD E@ 36 962=E9:6C[” 96 D2:5[ “?@E E@ DH2A 42?46C 7C@> 4:82C6EE6D 7@C 42?46C 7C@> D@>6E9:?8 6=D6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%@ D9@H 9:D 4FDE@>6CD E92E (:=5 '2A6CD’ AC@5F4ED 2C6 ?@E 92C>7F= E@ E9@D6 6IA@D65 E@ E96> D64@?592?5[ q@H>2? 92D <6AE =:G6 @C49:5D 2?5 A6E 49:?49:==2D :? 9:D D9@A D:?46 :E @A6?65 :? |2C49 a_`d] q@H>2? 28C665 E92E G2A:?8 92D 962=E9 C:D<D 2== :ED @H?[ 3FE D2:5 >@DE @7 E9@D6 4@>6 7C@> 255:E:G6D :? G2A@C:K6C 7=F:5[ C2E96C E92? E96 24E @7 G2A:?8 :ED6=7]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm'2A@C:K6C 7=F:5 W2=D@ 42==65 6\7=F:5[ 6\=:BF:5[ @C G2A6 ;F:46X 4@>6D :? >2?J 7=2G@CD[ 2== @7 H9:49 4@?E2:? H2E6C 2?5 2 32D6 @C 42CC:6C @:=[ FDF2==J AC@AJ=6?6 8=J4@= @C G686E23=6 8=J46C:?6] }:4@E:?6 :D @AE:@?2= 2?5 42? C2?86 7C@> _ E@ ac >:==:8C2>D] %96 7:?2= :?8C65:6?ED 2C6 7=2G@C:?8 255:E:G6D] %96 496>:42=D 4@?E2:?65 :? E96D6 255:E:G6D G2CJ H:=5=J[ 2?5 q@H>2? D2:5 E92E’D H96C6 E96 EC@F3=6 DE2CED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“!6@A=6 2C6 AFEE:?8 :? DEF77 =:<6 42776:?6[ G:E2>:?D[ 2CE:7:4:2= DH66E6?6CD] %9@D6 2C6 E96 E9:?8D E92E H:== 92C> J@F =@?8 E6C>[” q@H>2? D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 2CE:7:4:2= DH66E6?6C DF4C2=@D6[ 7@F?5 :? >2?J 7=2G@CD @7 G2A6 7=F:5[ :D 2?@E96C 4@>>@? 4F=AC:E] (96? :E :D 962E65 23@G6 bfd 568C66D u29C6?96:E[ DF4C2=@D6 368:?D E@ C6=62D6 5:@I:?D[ 92K2C5@FD 496>:42=D E92E 92G6 366? =:?<65 E@ 42?46C 2?5 3C2:? EF>@CD] q@H>2? C67FD6D E@ 42CCJ 7=F:5D 4@?E2:?:?8 DF4C2=@D6 @C @E96C 496>:42=D E92E 96 566>D 92C>7F= :? 9:D DE@C6]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x H@?’E 3C:?8 :E :?] x C6BF:C6 :E 7C@> E96 @H?6C @C rt~ @7 E96 4@>A2?J E92E 6G6CJE9:?8 :D 2CE:7:4:2= DH66E6?6C\7C66[” 96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmq@H>2? D2:5 96 >:I6D >2?J @7 E96 7=F:5D 96 D6==D :? 2 4=62? C@@> 4@??64E65 E@ E96 DE@C6] qFE E92E >2J 364@>6 2 E9:?8 @7 E96 A2DE[ 2D E96 =2HD C6=2E:?8 E@ G2A:?8 492?86 2?5 6IA2?5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx? |2J a_`e[ E96 u@@5 2?5 sCF8 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? WuspX AC@A@D65 C68F=2E:@?D E92E H:== 42FD6 6=64EC@?:4 4:82C6EE6D[ G2A@C:K6CD[ 9@@<29D 2?5 6=64EC@?:4 A:A6D E@ 36 DF3;64E E@ E96 a__h u2>:=J $>@<:?8 !C6G6?E:@? 2?5 %@3244@ r@?EC@= p4E] ~AA@?6?ED @7 E96 =68:D=2E:@? D2J E96 usp :D DEC6E49:?8 E96 567:?:E:@? @7 E@3244@ AC@5F4ED E@ :?4=F56 G2A6 7=F:5 2?5 @E96C DF3DE2?46D E92E[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ 5@?’E 4@?E2:? E@3244@ 2E 2==] %9:D 24E:@? H@F=5 2=D@ C6DEC:4E E96 D6CG:46D E92E G2A6 D9@A @H?6CD 4@F=5 @776C :?\DE@C6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmpD @7 pF8] g[ q@H>2? 2?5 @E96C G2A6 D9@A @H?6CD 42? ?@ =@?86C 3F:=5 4@:=D @C C6A=246 4@EE@? 7@C 4FDE@>6CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“pE E92E A@:?E[ E96 usp 566>65 FD 2 >2?F724EFC6C[ 2?5 H6 H@F=5 92G6 E@ C68:DE6C @FCD6=G6D 2D >2?F724EFC6CD[” q@H>2? 6IA=2:?65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmq@H>2? :D 2 >6>36C @7 E96 qC62E96 t2D:6C p==:2?46 @7 p=232>2 WqtppX[ 2 8C@FA @7 G2A6 D9@A @H?6CD 2?5 AC:G2E6 :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 2C6 D66<:?8 E@ AC@E64E G2A:?8 C:89ED :? E96 DE2E6] %96 qtpp 7@4FD6D @? C2:D:?8 2H2C6?6DD @7 E96 962=E9 724ED @7 G2A:?8 2?5 E96 C:89ED @7 G2A6 D>@<6CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 qtpp 2?5 @E96C 8C@FAD 36=:6G6 E96 usp’D CF=6 4@F=5 2=D@ 92G6 2 ?682E:G6 64@?@>:4 :>A24E[ 2D E96D6 3FD:?6DD6D >:89E 6>A=@J 2D >2?J 2D a[___ A6@A=6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 qtpp 92D ;@:?65 D:>:=2C @C82?:K2E:@?D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ :? DF:?8 E96 usp :? 9@A6D @7 >@5:7J:?8 @C 5@:?8 2H2J H:E9 E96 usp’D CF=6] u@C 9:D A2CE[ q@H>2? 5@6D?’E 36=:6G6 :E’D 762D:3=6 E@ E9C@H @FE 2== E96 AC@A@D65 C68F=2E:@?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“#68F=2E:@?D 2C6 4@>:?8[ H96E96C H6 =:<6 :E @C ?@E[” 96 D2:5] “'2A:?8 ?665D E@ 86E @? A2C H:E9 6G6CJE9:?8 6=D6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 5632E6 @G6C 962=E9 C:D<D @7 G2A:?8 H:== C286 @?] qFE H:E9 E96 C68F=2E:@?D C646?E=J :>A@D65 @? E96 :?5FDECJ[ G2A:?8 2D H6 <?@H :E[ >2J 36 23@FE E@ 8@ FA :? D>@<6]k^DA2?mk^Am