Are Electronic Cigarettes Safe?

Electronic Cigarettes, or Vaporizers, are becoming a popular alternative to smoking. These things consist of a battery, which is connected to a coil that heats up an oil (typically propylene glycenol or vegetable glycerin) held in a cartridge or tank, which then “vaporizes” into a water vapor that is flavored and can contain different strengths of nicotine.

The answer seems to depend on your definition of safe. In general, inhaling anything other than air is not a good thing, so compared to breathing, it is not “safe”. Also, the person is still consuming nicotine, which has its own effects on the body. However, most people have the wrong impression about nicotine.

Nicotine is actually a relatively harmless drug, and like all other drugs we take, has both positive and negative effects. Nicotine is a drug similar to, but stronger than caffeine – something millions of Americans drink every day. Nicotine shares many of the same effects as caffeine, although it acts as both a stimulant and a depressant. Nicotine can boost energy, and can aide in weight loss by reducing appetite and cravings. Aside from the metabolism increase, nicotine can also enhance mood, increase attentiveness and memory, and typically without the “crash” you experience from caffeine.  On the other hand, nicotine can also calm and relax you if you are feeling stressed.

Because of this unique effect, smokers can become very easily addicted to nicotine. Since they are inhaling it, the nicotine goes quickly to their brain. This causes a psychological dependency on nicotine, and withdrawal symptoms vary, but can get very bad. So while nicotine is, in many senses, a more effective caffeine, withdrawal is typically much worse.

Now for the “safe” part. If you are a cigarette smoker, you may want to consider switching to a vaporizer. When compared to cigarette smoke, it is almost unanimously agreed upon that the vapor itself is not nearly as detrimental to your body. Plus, many of the things that make smoking pleasurable make vaping pleasurable: you still get your nicotine fix, you can enjoy smoking socially, it tastes better, and you can still blow smoke rings like a dragon. Even better, they are virtually odorless, becoming cheaper and cheaper, and you can step down the nicotine levels until you can break the habit for good, without experiencing a terrible withdrawal.

However, if you are a non smoker, vaping may sound appealing at this point. At the end of the day, while nicotine may have positive effects, it will always be safer to simply avoid drugs. If you’re absolutely dying to see how nicotine feels, chew some nicotine gum. Inhaling nicotine can be a slippery slope, and many underestimate just how addicting it can be.

-Ioan Ozarchevici