"Electronic Cigarettes"?

[Formaldehyde]

I just saw this ad on TV:


Link to video.

Here's an ad disguised as a news media webpage:

http://news10report.tv/health/electronic-cigarette-special-report.html

The "Electronic Cigarette" is being touted as the newest high tech smoking alternative, but is it all that it's cracked up to be?

The E-Cigarette looks, feels, and tastes like a real cigarette, but with some important differences. Vendors claim that the "vapor" from an electronic cigarette does not contain the tar or numerous cancer causing chemicals found in traditional cigarettes. They also say that they are cheaper and more convenient than your old tobacco cigarettes. We were a little skeptical and decided to investigate this new trend ourselves.

The first thing that we realized while looking for a reputable vendor is that there are numerous "free trial" offers advertised on the radio and internet. Do not fall for these scams! They have hidden terms agreeing not only to actually pay over $100 for their so called "free" trial, but you also agree to a drastically over-priced monthly cartridge refill program! Just to add insult to injury we have found their products to be cheap knockoffs that do not even work past a week or two. But don't worry, there are reputable vendors out there!

Apparently, the "electronic cigarette" consists of an electronic unit which you are supposed to recharge each night. It produces water vapor which is then sucked through a replaceable nicotine cartridge.

What do you think? Has anybody tried one of these yet? It seems like it may be worth getting just to troll vehement anti-smokers in public restaurants and on planes, where the vendors claim it is legal to "smoke" these.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

It's mentioned in this article:

His right hand twiddles with a thin brown stick.

“Got my electric cigarette here,” he says. “It gives you a shot of nicotine and steam.” The vapors substitute for smoke. “I’m using these to edge off of the smoking,” he says. “It’s just part of getting older and realizing you have to straighten up.”

and this one

"I've cut way down," he says. "You get vapor and a shot of nicotine, nothing burning."

In another article it was mentioned in passing and some people thought the articlewriters meant pot

 

[Dachs]

Extremely old news. Apparently they're not even close to worth it.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I love the way its pretending to be a news site when its written like an ad

 

[bhsup]

I remember Premiers from the 80s. Those didn't pan out either. Also, isn't this pretty much making it an outright drug delivery system instead of just a 'natural product'? I seem to recall that being a big deal awhile back when the tobacco companies were being persecuted so badly by the Feds.

 

[amadeus]

Real men smoke Chesterfields!

 

[illram]

These have been around for a while. I have never tried one but the fact that tobacco companies have been frantically trying to make these things disappear makes me like them by default.

I agree with VRWCA that these are basically just nicotine delivery devices, but so is gum, the patch, and, well, cigarettes. If these can be another tool to help folks quit (promising maybe for people who were partly smokers because it gave us something to do with our hands, something the gum doesn't help and something that was difficult for me when I quit) then more power to them. Although I am admittedly ignorant on their efficacy in that regard.

 

[Cu Chulainn]

I suppose hipsters are the natural market for something like this, but they could be a little less obvious about it.

 

[eazyhasaids]

They aren't too bad. It's definitely not as satisfying as actually inhaling smoke but you can keep taking drags from it as it isnt as harsh. They don't cost too much and if i hadn't recently quit i would say its definitely worth getting.

 

[Hygro]

most of the poison of cigarettes is in the nicotine.

 

[Cashie]

I thought nicotine was the poison.
Also most TV is disguised advertising sandwiched between blocks of real advertising.

 

[Disgustipated]

most of the poison of cigarettes is in the nicotine.

speak for yourself. I'm forced to endure second hand smoke every day. I'd love for these things to become a hit.

 

[bhsup]

I thought nicotine was the poison.

Depending on the brand, you would be shocked at some of the stuff you're sucking in just by burning the paper the tobacco is wrapped in. And whether or not it is actually a poison like nicotine is, sucking tar into your lungs isn't exactly going to earn you the Presidential Fitness Medal.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Nicotine alone is not known to be carcinogenic. Given all the tests which have been made, I think it is safe to assume it is not. It is nicotine smoke, chemicals which are formed when tobacco is aged and processed, and the other chemicals that cigarette vendors add which are the carcinogens. Nicotine actually seems to help reduce the chances of getting breast cancer in some women. It is toxic in large enough quantities, as are many other substances. Nicotine even shows promise as an antipsychotic and it seems to especially help with schizophrenia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine

 

[bhsup]

There are many positive side effects to smoking. But that doesn't change the fact that it's a poison.

And hey, pack a day 25 year smoker here

 

[Formaldehyde]

Yes, it is a poison in ludicrous quantities, as are many other chemicals.

It's not the nicotine which is likely going to prematurely kill smokers. It is the smoke from burning the tobacco.

I think if I still smoked that I would certainly try this out.

 

[Narz]

Real men smoke Chesterfields!

Real men promote poisonous products to an uneducated (at the time anyway) and impressionable public to make a few dollars?

 

[GamezRule]

These are good things if somebody is using them to cut the addiction to nicotine.

 

[warpus]

speak for yourself. I'm forced to endure second hand smoke every day. I'd love for these things to become a hit.

You're forced to? How?

As for these electronic cigarettes, if it helps people quit.. all the power to them

 

[Formaldehyde]

These are good things if somebody is using them to cut the addiction to nicotine.

I really don't see how consuming nicotine is going to make you want to stop consuming nicotine. The intent appears to be to take away the carcinogenic issues while allowing you to get your nicotine fix indoors in public places where it is now prohibited.