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Show HILLTOP TIMES 8 TIMES June 24, 2010 Electronic cigarettes—risky business? It runs on a battery. When one inhales it like a typical cigarette, the battery warms liquid nicotine stored in a plastic filter. The nicotine is dissolved in propylene glycol, the liquid that is vaporized in nightclub and stage show smoke machines. The combination of heat and liquid creates the vapor or "smoke" puff when exhaled. Electronic cigarette manufacturers publicize their product as the first healthy cigarette, free of the harmful chemicals and tar typically found in tobacco products. There is only one ingredient: pure liquid nicotine. According to Elicko Taieb, CEO of Smoking Everywhere, one of the largest distributors of electronic cigarettes, "Our product is comparable to the nicotine patch except people still get the oral fixation, which they love." But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers e-cigarettes an unapproved new drug because there is not enough scientific proof that they are safe BY PATRICIA CERONE 75th Aerospace Medical Squadron H ave you heard about the electronic cigarette, or the e-cigarette? Some ads claim that they are a healthier choice than cigarettes. But is that the truth? An electronic cigarette contains liquid nicotine, which is highly addictive. Research shows nicotine is as addictive as heroin. If you are thinking about using e-cigarettes as an alternative to smoking or to help you stop smoking, it's important to understand that these nicotine delivery devices are not FDA approved for effectiveness or safety. There are proven and safe alternatives for nicotine replacement therapy to help you stop smoking, such as the patch and gum, both of which are FDA approved and safe when used according to directions. Check with your provider about using tobacco cessation medications. How does the e-cigarette work? TriCare Smoking Quitline A ll non-Medicare eligible TriCare beneficiaries within the U.S. can get assistance with going "smoke-free" by calling the toll-free quitline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, weekends and holidays. Beneficiaries residing in the TriCare South Region can reach the quitline at (877) 414-9949. Beneficiaries living in the North Region can call (866) 459-8766 and those in the West Region can call (866) 244H5870. TriCare's Smoking Quitline is a telephone support and referral service. Beneficiaries who call will be assessed and receive guidance for a smoking cessation plan that fits their unique smoking habits. Cessation materials can also be provided through the U.S. mail. Although the new TriCare Smoking Quitline is geared toward smoking cessation only, any TriCare beneficiaries who want to quit using tobacco, including the smokeless kind, can get support through the Department of Defense's comprehensive and awardwinning Quit Tobacco Web site, www.ucanquit2.org. Ucanquit2 offers interactive, Web-based tobacco cessation training along with live, real-time encouragement from trained tobacco cessation coaches via the 24/7 "chat" feature. Users also have the opportunity to exchange information through theAVeb site's blog and electronic bulletin board and link to the Web site's Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and jYbuTube pages. Medicare eligible beneficiaries are reminded (they may be eligible for [smoking cessation benefits ^through Medicare Part B. Check for more information at www.medicare.gov. • Hill AFB Health and Wellness Center (HAWC) offers monthly classes that meet one hour a week for four weeks. Call (801) 777-1215 to sign up and for jfurther information. or effective. "Nicotine is not the thing in tobacco smoke that causes cancer, but inhaling pure nicotine may be dangerous," said Dr. Steven Schroeder, a physician and smoking cessation expert at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. "We have no clue what the health effects could be." The obvious purpose of the ecigarette is to deliver an addictive substance, nicotine, to you, its user, in the hopes that it will foster your addiction and cause you to buy more e-cigarettes. There is nothing good about that. Ready to quit? Classes are held monthly and meet one hour a week for four weeks. Department of Defense federal employees are eligible for up to 12 weeks of free tobacco cessation medication. Funding is limited. Call the Health and Wellness Center at (801) 777-1215 to sign up or for more information. HAWC and CHPS offer open house T he Health and Wellness Center and Civilian Health Promotion Services will be hosting a joint open house on June 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come by and see what services your HAWC and CHPS offers. There will be a variety of resources available. There's no place lilveUSA.gov. Have you ever ivrmtlcrcd how the Wizard of 0/ seemed to know everything? Well. Ihe secret's out and it's USA.gov. You am find everything from student loans ' to 'Cuvcmmenl auctions nncl government benefits to. well, almost anything. So £o lo ihc official source of federal and stale ""government Information. USA.gov. ILc.inmnkcyouasall-knowingnsilic Wizard of Oz. USA.gov 1 (800) FEP-INFO -jam •»• •mL; <•** -- '•*•• .:-_•* •• .7 .. •" -v" - /.-! ">•••' '^fl RLD'S MOST ,i-; «uu R ELEBRATION JUNE 30-JULY2 • CABELA'S HONORS YOUR SERVICE AND AS OUR WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU, WE ARE OFFERING OUR i EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT TO MILITARY PERSONNEL, VETERANS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREMEN AND EMS* Lehi, Utah Highland/Alpine Exit 284 just off I-15 N 40° 26.227" Will0 53.364" CABELA'S • 801.766.2500 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. • Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. cabelas.com/lehi 1 This offer is gqpd at Cabela's U.S. stores only. Not available on catalog or internet orders. This offer is valid on in-stock store " merchandise only. Not \falid on Gift'Certificates, Gift Cards or licenses. Offer cannot be used on prior purchases. Offer cannot be used in , combination with any other promgion or previous offers. Other restrictions apply, see store for details. Please pifesent government ID. % I |