New Zealand:  Auckland Uni Conducts World''s First E-cigarettes Study

Source from:  nzoom.com (TVNZ)  06/24/2013

Auckland University is carrying out the world's first study into the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as an aid to stop smoking.

More than 650 people are participating in the study comparing e-cigarettes with the commonly used nicotine patches.

E-cigarettes work by vapourising liquid nicotine, essentially giving a nicotine hit without all the toxins associated with traditional tobacco cigarettes.

Participant Luis Paraha had previously attempted to quit twice, but believes this time she has cracked it by combining exercise with e-cigarettes.

"I just used the e-cigarette and then three weeks later, that was it - stopped," she told ONE News.

University of Auckland researcher Chris Bullen said organisations like the World Health Organisation are asking what to do about the devices, but no-

one has the answers, as no-one has done a study until now.

But e-cigarettes, both herbal and nicotine varieties have been available for some time.

However, with increasing restrictions worldwide on tobacco products, e-cigarette sales are booming.

Celebrity endorsements may also be helping sales, but many argue that rather than helping people to stop smoking, they're encouraging some to start.

"There is some small amount of emerging evidence of some people, particularly children, using them as an access source to get the nicotine hit," said

Viven Nathanson from the British Medical Association.

E-cigarettes containing nicotine have been banned in some countries

In New Zealand, they must be approved by MedSafe before being sold or supplied, but no-one has applied for approval yet.

While anti-smoking advocates say the market needs better regulation, they are welcoming the results from the study that will be released in September.

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