E-Cigarettes - To be Licensed as a Medicine

Medicine is:

1. A drug or other preparation used for the treatment or prevention of disease.

In recent news the Beeb has announced that E-Cigarettes will be classified as a medicine from the year 2016.  By the above definition of a "medicine" (nicked off Google!) E-Cigs will be classed for use as a treatment or preventative of "smoking".

What doesn't make sense, is that smokers are consuming "real cigarettes" because they are addicted to the Nicotine that is present in them - so how is legalising something that is basically just another method for the intake of Nicotine either a "treatment" or a "preventative" of the underlying disease?  This question should be put to all NRT products.

Why is it that society appears to have given up on Smokers and Nicotine Addicts completely - when there is a tried and tested method for complete cessation of Nicotine Consumption?  As an Ex Smoker and Nicotine Addict, I can categorically state that I much prefer the freedom from addiction that Allen Carr's Easy Way To Quit Smoking gave me, than the idea that I may have spent the rest of my life permanently addicted to an alternative nicotine consumption method.

I propose a different and more accurate title to Nicotine Replacement Therapy

ALTERNATIVE NICOTINE DELIVERY SYSTEM (ANDS)
or even
ASD - ALTERNATIVE to SMOKING DEVICE

We cannot call E-Cigarettes, Patches etc... Nicotine Replacement Therapies, as they do not replace the nicotine, they ARE nicotine, and in my view I can't see how they either treat, or prevent smoking and nicotine addiction.

It's like saying we'll ban Beer, but will promote Wine as an alternative because, even though it's still alcohol - it's not quite as bad for you! Would we then promote Wine as a "medicine"?

Honestly!

TQQ

See full article at The Beeb (Love the Beeb)  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22870301#TWEET786848)