FDA

Public health officials in the United States generally regard e-cigarettes as a new pathway to addiction, unlike those in Great Britain, who look at them as a safer way to feed a nicotine habit or to stop smoking tobacco entirely.

Now, seven top tobacco control experts from around the world are cautioning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to keep an open mind on the topic.

"We believe that the discussion to date has been slanted against e-cigarettes, which is unfortunate, because the big picture tells us that these products appear to be used mostly by people who aready are or who are likely to become cigarette smokers," said David T. Levy, PhD, a professor in the department of oncology at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, D.C.

Will the FDA pay attention, we hope so.