Worcester County Health Department officials concerned about E-Cigs

Worcester County has been helping members quit smoking through their smoking cessation program, but one program instructor has been concerned about the recent increase of smokers using e-cigarettes. In the past three years Linda Green, a smoking cessation instructor at Worcester County says almost everyone that comes to the smoking cessation classes have tried E-cigarettes.  She’s also worried about how appealing they have become  to young adults with the different flavors available.

Green says, “They are promoted as being safer than cigarettes and tobacco use but we don’t know that because they are still fairly new.”

Worcester County health department health officials say they do not recommend them as alternatives for regular cigarettes or as ways to quit smoking.  The department  is offering free smoking cessations classes in two centers; Tuesdays at the Berlin Center and Thursdays at the Pocomoke Center with both classes going from 5 to 6 pm. In addition to the classes, they are giving vouchers for smoking cessation aids such as gums and patches that are reedemable in three pharmacies in Worcester County.