Current Event #7

Poisoning linked to e-cigarettes 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/87735223@N02/11359046364/

When a person wants to quite their habits of smoking, one has the option to resort to an e-cigarette. E-cigarettes resembles moderately to that of a traditional cigarette, which is pleasing to those who have a consistence-stricken habit. Instead of using actual tobacco smoke, this device uses a type of gas vapor. With these e-cigarette products being available since 2007,  people are starting to abuse them just as a regular cigarette. This problem is most occurring with teenagers. This is prominent amount most high school and middle school students. In the view of this fact, obtaining these e-cigs are quite easy, and since there are no restrictions on the device,  most anyone can purchase them. Although this device gives off an impression that no harm would come to the user, but in resent studies, this is not the case. Centers of for Disease Control and Prevention specialist, Kevin Chatham-Stephens did a study with some of his co-workers to record the amount of over-exposure to e-cigs come through to the phone calls the the US poison control center. Throughout the four years of this study, there were " 2,405 calls" (Raloff). Over 60 percent of users have reported have harm after using the instrument, and revealed the effects that they were experiencing. This would be symptoms such as, "Vomiting, nausea and eye irritation" (Raloff). CDC recently have been themselves being faced with more incoming calls for this e-cigarette problem rapidly, and with half of the users being young teenagers and children, difficult situation has surfaced in the public health concern.  

This topic doesn't truly pertain to anything that I am reading or doing in my classes. Although, I can connect this event to something that I learned last semester in Mr. Pauls class. We discussed the use of e-cigarettes in a previous blog post and it is interesting that this mishap is actually getting more and more noticed in our society. Teenagers do have a habit of finding other ways to break the rules, and since this device is suppose to be an alternative for those who want to quite smoking and there no limitations in obtaining them, it a sort of a loop hole for them. Not only this, we examined the advertisements for these products, and how their endorsements make it more appealing to teenagers, such as the different flavors. Also, we discussed how this issue could be resolved and most of the class agreed that it would be accurate to put more restrictions on the e-cigarettes then make it easily available. 

In my opinion, this issue has gotten increasingly serious, and is at the point where it is not only effecting the smokers, but also the younger generation. With the discovery of the ongoing increase in number of complaints of  harmful effects, much controversy has been developed with this situation. For one, I believe in order for this health concern to be solved, companies of these e-cigs should go back to the drawing books and make sure that no harm has been inflicted onto the user. If this occurs, then there will be less buyers for the products because of the unfavorable results. The adolescents even have a greater impact on how people perceive these products. With the toxic fumes making people sick, people will surely have to be additional attention in smoking substitute. I personally would never think about using this contraption. Smoking all together is out of the question for me, but for others not so much. Some of the friends I know do use these e-cigs, and with this on going fad, more teenagers will want to get their hands on them. This is why I conclude to the fact of putting control on them so that it won't be as easy to acquire one, lessening the chance of the unhealthy danger signs.  Any of the brands that do sell e-cigs, most likely aren't going to agree if they are given limitations, because with the teenagers making a considerable size of the buyers, it will decrease in income.

Short Answer Response 

• What is the central idea of the passage and how is it developed and refined throughout the selection? Use evidence from the selection to support your answer.

The central idea of this passage is the urgency of the ongoing epidemic with the e-cigarettes. To further refine this throughout the selection, the author gives vital information proving that this problem is quite significant. This is shown when the author gives a statement said by CDC that in order for this issue to be resolved people should  "monitor and prevent future poisonings is critical.” (CDC). Also, the author uses powers words that gives the viewers an additional understanding, such as toxic, vapors, tobacco, etc.  

Citations
Fox, Lindsay. Disposable E-Cigarette. Photograph. Flickr. Yahoo, 11 Dec. 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/87735223@N02/11359046364/>.

Raloff, Janet. "Poisonings Linked to E-cigarettes." Student Science. Society for Science & the Public, 8 Apr. 2104. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <https://student.societyforscience.org/article/poisonings-linked-e-cigarettes>.