Electronic Cigarettes

To those who haven’t seen or tried electronic cigarettes before, the name raises some eyebrows at first.  “Electronic cigarettes?  What the heck are those?”  But these new devices are quickly taking the cigarette industry by storm and capturing a big share of smokers who are looking to quit smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes once and for all.  Additionally, there a number of electronic cigarette smokers who never were smokers in the first place but have fallen in love with e-smoking.

So what are electronic cigarettes?  Electronic cigarettes (called e-cigarettes or e-cigs for short, and also referred to as vapor cigarettes or steam cigarettes in some circles) are nicotine devices that are used much like a traditional cigarette.  They consist of a battery and a cartridge that screw together and look and act much like a regular cigarette.  The cartridge contains liquid nicotine, and when the user inhales through the device the battery is activated which releases a nicotine vapor from the cartridge.  This vapor is then inhaled and exhaled just like you would with traditional tobacco smoke.  On the other end of the e-cigarette is an LED light that illuminates, giving the appearance of a flame like you would see on a cigarette.

The biggest draw for electronic cigarettes is that they can be smoked anywhere, including places where regular cigarettes are now prohibited such as bars and restaurants.  The cartridges do not contain the tar and carcinogens you would find in a tobacco cigarette, and are odorless.  They do not give off any second-hand smoke, have no risk of starting a fire, and do not leave any mess from ash or cigarette butts.  Electronic cigarettes have become popular to smokers who must have their nicotine fix but aren’t always able to step outside to smoke.  One place where they have become very popular is poker rooms and casinos, where players often sit for long periods of time and can’t step away from the table.

A great thing about electronic cigarettes is the variety of cartridges available.  The cartridges are sold in varying degrees of nicotine content.  For heavy smokers, you can choose cartridges with a high nicotine content.  For lighter or social smokers, you can have cartridges with little or no nicotine at all, if you just want to enjoy the taste.  When it comes to taste, you have many options.  Cartridges are available in traditional tobacco tastes (some are even formulated to taste like specific brands, such as Marlboro or Parliament), as well exotic flavors such as peppermint, chocolate, coffee, and a wide assortment of fruit flavors.

Another alluring feature of e-cigarettes is their use as smoking cessation devices.  As mentioned earlier, cartridges are available in different nicotine contents.  With this you can gradually ease yourself off of a nicotine habit by starting with higher strength nicotine cartridges, and over a period of time stepping down to lower nicotine content until you don’t feel the need for nicotine at all.

It’s no wonder why electronic cigarettes have become so popular among cigarette smokers.  With this industry still relatively in it’s infancy, it’s safe to say this market will continue to grow and e-cigs are here to stay.