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OPINION
University of Michigan

E-cigarette risks vs. benefits: #tellusatoday

A woman smokes an e-cigarette.

This year, for the first time, more teens used electronic cigarettes than tobacco ones, according to a University of Michigan survey. Letter to the editor:

Your editorial "E-cigarettes cloud progress on teen smoking: Our view" reveals the increasing number of teens smoking e-cigarettes. It would appear that the lack of proper regulation on e-cigarettes has undone the hard work of anti-tobacco campaigns.

As a Millennial born in the 1990s, I can recall many anti-tobacco commercials over the years and have seen the overall growth of the initiative.

Today, teens have quicker access than ever to information and products. With that being said, it is the responsibility of administrators to put the proper regulations in place to prevent minors from accessing such products.

Kellé Wyatt; Ellicott City, Md.

Comments from Facebook and Twitter are edited for clarity and grammar:

It's better for teens to smoke e-cigarettes than real cigarettes. It would be better if they didn't smoke at all, but I see this change as a plus.

— Dennis Buckley

I won't agree that e-cigarettes are safer. Not enough time has passed to know.

Jay Buccola

USA TODAY's article "Studies find jump in teens using e-cigarettes" does not say how many kids tried an e-cig just once out of curiosity (News, Monday).

Jamie Currier DeMan

We tried out all sorts of things, including cigarettes, when we were teens. So did our parents and our grandparents. My children did, and their children will, too. "Vaping" is safer than cigarettes and other drugs that teens today might try.

Sara Williams

People use vapor cigarettes to get off of cigarettes. For me, it has been most effective. However, I agree that teens under the age of 18 shouldn't be allowed to buy them.

Britany Payge Moss

The government outlawed innocent candy-flavored tobacco cigarettes years ago. There are inherent health hazards in e-cigarettes.

@JamesGiangobbe

More teens using e-cigarettes shows they know the difference between tobacco and nicotine, unlike others.

@paigeaarhus

'Vapers' are unpaid participants in a massive product test. I hope it works out OK for them, but I have my doubts.

@LouiseSchiavone

Smoking has successfully been made to look completely uncool.

@AlyssaFirth

For more of the conversation, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.

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