Electronic cigarettes, first introduced in the U.S. market in 2006, have evolved from nicotine delivery systems to sophisticated, customizable devices that can deliver a range of illicit drugs. New generations of e-cigarettes are increasingly being used to deliver drugs such as THC (the intoxicating compound in marijuana), methamphetamine, fentanyl, and synthetic cannabinoids. This article details how NIJ-supported researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) have identified how these devices continue to evolve, how the newest models impact drug delivery, and how illicit e-cigarette pharmaceutical products are being developed and distributed. The study, led by VCU forensic toxicologist Michelle Peace, had three objectives: characterize the new models of e-cigarettes and how they are customized; characterize a variety of commercially available e-liquids for refilling e-cigarettes, including some advertised as containing drugs other than nicotine; and develop a model for characterizing the particle-size distribution in aerosols. The researchers determined fourth-generation e-cigarettes are effective drug delivery systems and now can "facilitate the aerosolization of drugs from products that are not liquid."
The Evolution and Impact of Electronic Cigarettes
NCJ Number
254538
Date Published
February 2012
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article describes research based on the NIJ grantee report "Chasing the Electronic Cigarette Dragon: Characterizing the Evolution and Impact of Design and Content" (NCJ 252921) by Michelle Peace and funded by NIJ award 2016-DN-BX-0150 awarded to Virginia Commonwealth University.
Abstract