E-Cigarettes: A Disruptive Technology That Revolutionizes Our Field?

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Electronic cigarettes (EC) or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) were invented by the Chinese pharmacist Lik Hon and were initially developed by the Chinese company Ruyan. Early models looked very much like cigarettes, and therefore EC was a relatively appropriate name. However, they are now available in numerous shapes and sizes with different components (“mods”) that can be assembled by users (“vapers”); therefore ENDS may be a more accurate name for these devices. They were first marketed in Europe and the United States in 2006. Sales of ENDS were initially modest, possibly because the technology was unreliable and the nicotine delivery was very limited.¹ ENDS were first met by curiosity and an open mind by most researchers and tobacco policy advocates. After some years with modest growth on the market but with radical technological development and a big growth in tobacco company interest, sales of ENDS increased dramatically around 2010 and have now surpassed sales of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) despite its 35 years on the market. Some financial analysts project that ENDS will overtake the sales of traditional cigarettes within 10 years.² Among adults in the United States, awareness of ENDS increased from 41% in 2010 to 80% in 2013. Ever use increased from 10% to 37% among smokers and from 3% to 10% among former smokers.³