Ever Tried an Electronic Cigarette?

Ever taken a drag off an electric cigarette?

Perhaps I’m a little out of the loop as far as nicotine consumption goes but up until a few minutes ago I had no idea that such things as “electronic cigarettes” existed.

An electronic cigarette is shaped just like a normal cigarette except it is battery powered. When the e-cigarette is inhaled, the “smoker” experiences a slightly flavored, nicotine-filled vapor.

(Flickr image credit: Gary Betting)

This nicotine solution is supposed to give off a physical sensation just like a regular cigarette, yet without the smoke obviously. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want to be sticking small, electrical devices in my mouth. But then again, I’m not a smoker so I also don’t want to suck on a firey stick of poison.

Upon the e-cigarette’s first release, they were viewed as the “healthier” alternative to cigarettes and were even used as an aid to quit smoking. Recently though, the Food and Drug Administration released a warning that electronic cigarettes contain “traces of toxic substances and carcinogens.” 

I think the scariest part about these electric sticks, is that they’re carried in shopping malls and come in children-enticing flavors such as bubble gum and cherry, and word on the street is, they’re becoming more and more popular.

I suppose the evolution of the cigarette makes sense. Now we can all walk around, chatting on our iphones, bouncing to our itunes, and dragging on an e-fag hanging ouside our mouth.