title: A debate: Can we recommend electronic cigarettes to our patients? Opinion 1.
abstract: A discussion about disadvantages of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has recently broken out. There are even opinions that they are as harmful as regular cigarettes. However, this has not been proved, and theoretical premises suggest that e-cigarettes should be definitely less harmful as while using them, tobacco is not burned and harmful substances, in particular carcinogens are not produced. Certain premises assume that e-cigarettes may be used as a new form of nicotine replacement therapy, but this has not been confirmed yet. Therefore, further research into harmfulness and safety of the use of e-cigarettes is required. This paper presents solely reasons for the possibility of recommending e-cigarettes to people addicted to nicotine.
authors.affiliation: tadeusz.zielonka@wum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Tadeusz M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Zielonka
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention / Q000379:methods; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine
keywords: electronic cigarette; nicotine replacement therapy; passive smoking; tobacco