The UK based chapter of ASH organization has now released a document that states that one of the few downsides of the electronic cigarette is that the levels of nicotine as "low", and may not give users the amount of nicotine needed to keep them using the e cigarette over the real thing. They further state their support for other alternatives to tobacco.
Taken from their press release:
"ASH supports a harm reduction approach to tobacco, that is, we see that while efforts to help consumers stop smoking should remain a priority, many people either do not want to stop smoking or find it extremely difficult to do so. For this group, we believe that products should be made available that deliver nicotine in a safe way, without the harmful components found in tobacco. Most of the diseases associated with smoking are caused by inhaling smoke, which contains thousands of toxic chemicals. By contrast, nicotine is relatively safe. Therefore, electronic cigarettes, which deliver nicotine without the nasty toxins found in tobacco smoke, are likely to be a safer alternative to smoking. Also to add, e-cigarettes reduce secondhand smoke exposure since they do not produce smoke."
Empirical evidence from numerous studies conducted by doctors show that 45% of electronic cigarette users stopped smoking tobacco within 8 weeks of starting with the product, along with other studies by trusted companies around the world stating that e cigarettes are between 100 to 1000 times much safer and/or better for the user.