E-Cigarettes May Serve as Gateway to Smoking for Teens, Study Suggests

When I was in middle school, I asked my mom if she would be mad if I tried smoking. I’ve never forgotten her answer: “Go ahead and try it,” she said. “You’ll hate it, and you’ll never want to do it again.” So about a year later, when the opportunity presented itself, I took a puff off an older kid’s cigarette in a public bathroom. I could barely inhale, and I’ve never had the desire to try one since. My mom’s antismoking strategy made such an impression that I’ve always thought I would take the same tack with my daughters, who are now 6 and 3. Unfortunately, thanks to the advent of the e-cigarette — with its smooth delivery system and sweet flavorings — this approach may blow up in my face.