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E-cigarettes: Friend or foe for employee health?
Tips on how to address e-cigarettes with worksite wellness programs
Highlights:
HealthFitness Chief Medical and Wellness Officer Dennis Richling, M.D.:
Answers common questions about e-cigarettes;
Provides current science on the topic; and
Shares considerations for health management programs
MINNEAPOLIS  SEPT. 2, 2014 — The use of e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) is on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in five adult cigarette smokers have tried an e-cigarette and the percentage of middle and high school students who use e-cigarettes has more than doubled.
“Depending on who is speaking, e-cigarettes are either part of the solution to cigarette smoking or part of the much larger problem of tobacco use,” says HealthFitness’ Chief Medical and Wellness Officer Dennis Richling, M.D.
In response to inquiries from employers interested in best practices with health management programs, Richling addresses some common questions about e-cigarettes, provides current science on the topic and shares considerations for next steps in his recent blog post “E-cigarettes: Friend or foe for employee health?”
E-cigarette recommendations for employers with health management programs include:
Treat e-cigarettes like tobacco products in your smoking policy.
Be prepared to navigate complex issues if you include e-cigarettes in your incentive program. 
Use your health assessment to educate participants about e-cigarettes.
To learn specifics around Richling’s recommendations with e-cigarettes for employers with health management programs, visit “E-cigarettes: Friend or foe for employee health?”
 
 
About HealthFitness
HealthFitness, a subsidiary of The Trustmark Companies, is an award-winning, URAC- and NCQA-accredited provider of health management, corporate fitness and condition management solutions. With 35-plus years of experience, HealthFitness is a proven leader and partner for infusing a culture of health. We maximize client results through personalized interaction and a science-based approach to on-site program management, engagement and prevention. For more information on HealthFitness, visit www.healthfitness.com