HealthCetera, March 10, Part 1: E-cigarettes

E-cigarettes have garnered lots of attention since they first came out. Proponents say that it’s a great alternative to tobacco for people who are nicotine addicts. E-cigarettes can help people get off of regular cigarettes that can cause lung and cardiovascular problems. Those who oppose e-cigarettes have several arguments against them. First, e-cigarettes perpetuate someone’s nicotine addiction. Second, the manufacturers of e-cigarettes are targeting their marketing to young people, ensuring that another generation is addicted to nicotine. Finally, there is little research on the effects of e-cigarettes on the body and recent research has documented that the flavorings of e-cigarettes that target younger people are associated with a rare damaging lung condition referred to as popcorn lung.

Despite these concerns, some mental health professionals are proposing e-cigarettes as a harm reduction alternative to tobacco among people with serious mental illness and substance users. Today on HealthCetera, producer Diana Mason interviews Kevin McGirr, Associate Professor of Nursing at New York City College of Technology, City University of New York; and Helen Redmond, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Harm Reduction Specialist, and independent journalist who writes about drugs for Alternet, Al Jazeera and Socialist Worker.

So tune in on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at WBAI, 99.5 FM in New York City or streaming at www.wbai.org. Or you can listen to the program anytime by clicking here:

HealthCetera is sponsored by the Center for Health, Media & Policy at Hunter College, City University of New York.

E-cigarettes have garnered lots of attention since