Non Fiction Reading Response

Ione Saffady

804

Smoke Signals

            The article “Smoke Signals,” by Alessandra Potenza in the December 9^th issue of “Upfront” discusses the pros and cons of E cigarettes. E cigarettes have been a very debatable topic.  They are battery-powered versions of cigarettes without tobacco. However they still include nicotine.  So the big question, Are E-cigarettes better than normal cigarettes? If so, why are people so against them? The article discusses both sides. It taught me that these have helped people quit smoking cigarettes because of the resemblance.  However, these e-cigarettes are targeted towards younger people. Because this article shows both sides, the reader can come up with there own opinion on the topic.

            This article is very unbiased, it does an incredible job of defending both sides. I learned that a lot of people, who didn’t even smoke in the first place, are becoming addicted to E-cigarettes. “Tiffany Harvey had never smoked cigarettes. "Then last February, the 26 year old student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology saw an electronic cigarette on instagram. Out of curiosity, she bought one and tried it. Harvey’s been an E-cigarette smoker since,” (Potenza, 6). Not only are they addicting but they are also targeting them for teens. They have celebrities like Jenny McCarthy endorse them making them want to buy them. They are also making them flavored, who’s more likely to buy bubble-gum flavored cigarettes? Teens! “They come in flavors like chocolate, bubblegum, or vanilla, which are known to appeal to young people. By contrast, the FDA prohibits all flavoring except menthol, in regular cigarettes.”(7).  Teenagers are twice as likely to smoke cigarettes if they have smoked electronic cigarettes. Maybe they aren’t better than normal cigarettes.  At the same time the author shows why they are good. These are stopping people from smoking. “ A growing number of doctors, however, are looking at e-cigarettes as the deadliest-and most avoidable-public health problems: Cigarette smoking accounts for almost half a million deaths from cancer, emphysema, and heart disease in the U.S. The article uses the example of Brian Kano who had been smoking since he was 17 and has quit tobacco cigarettes for e-cigarettes. As you can see the article does a great job of proving both sides.

            I have always thought electronic cigarettes were bad, after reading this article I have more evidence to back up my opinions and I feel even more strongly towards my opinion. At the same time I have learned some benefits of them and I understand the other side. People think that e- cigarettes will stop people from smoking but really it’s making even more young people start! There are many similarities in how e-cigarettes are being advertised now to how normal cigarettes were before. I just hope the same thing doesn’t happen. More bad might come out of it then good and that’s not what it’s intended to do. I wonder what exactly is in electronic cigarettes and how harmful they can be.  I hope more research is done so we can find out what it causes before we target them at teens and have millions of people using them. I think steps need to be taken to limit electronic cigarettes. To limit who they are targeted at, their flavors, maybe even a ban. This article makes me want to learn more like a good article should.