Is There Such a Thing as A Safer Cigarette?

Is smoking okay in any form? Credit: Xurble, Flickr

I’ve been out of the smoking scene for a loooong time. But even though I only smoked for a year in my rebellious late teens/early 20, I remember it being a really annoyingly tough habit to kick. As technology has taken over many aspects of our lives, it only seems reasonable, if a little bit crazy-futuristic, that you can now smoke — or “vape” — electronic cigarettes. These battery-operated devices give users a nicotine fix without many of the chemicals, tar and carbon monoxide of regular cigarettes. The jury is still out on whether or not these e-cigs are safe — and there are of course parties in both camps — but they do seem like a bit of a lesser evil.

One of the problems with e-cigs is that they’re not regulated yet by the FDA, so the amounts of nicotine users are getting tends to vary quite a bit. And there is a question of what else is being inhaled.

Head on over Babble for more on these “safer smokes” and sound off below: Do you think e-cigarettes are a good option for those looking to quit? Or does this kind of product make an easy entry into nicotine addiction? Or both? —Erin