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E- cigarettes and tobacco lozenges are purported as a way to stop smoking.  But, the Institute of Medicine would like you to rethink that.

There is too little known about whether they actually pose less risk than do traditional tobacco products.  Quitting smoking is difficult: only 6% are able to successfully quit tobacco each year.  Because quitting is so difficult, many cigarette smokers may welcome products that allow them to continue smoking.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Control Act of 2009 gave the FDA the authority to ensure that modified-risk-tobacco products actually do reduce tobacco-related harm before they are marketed.

We know the harm that traditional cigarettes pose, we do not know the risks of e-cigarettes or lozenges.  Tests are underway.