The Electronic Cigarette Phenomenon | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

The Electronic Cigarette Phenomenon

Is that guy smoking a flashlight?

12
The Electronic Cigarette Phenomenon
Reddit User: Petethered

I started smoking when I was very young, 14 years old. I grew up in a very small town, 20 minutes from an Indian reservation. I could buy a carton of cigarettes for 20 dollars and be set for two weeks to a month. I smoked very seldom when I was young, but my addiction grew worse as I grew up.

I quit just before I turned 20, my uncle had bought me my first vape, and the rest is history. I've fallen off the wagon once or twice, as anyone else will, and I still might have one when I've had a few drinks. But 99.9 percent of the time, I am cigarette free.

It's 2016 now, I'm committing to never having another cigarette again. I haven't felt better in years. I can breathe deeply, I don't wake up with coughing fits, and I don't smell (maybe like fruit or something but not smoke). And I owe all that to electronic cigarettes.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Electronic Cigarettes, (aka E-cigs, or Vapes). You've probably seen articles or news stories on these new-fangled devices that people are using to quit smoking cigarettes. These stories/articles tend to lean one of two ways, praising the devices, or claiming they will be the death of us all.

What is an electronic cigarette? In its simplest form, it is a device, powered by a removable, or internal battery. That device is attached to an atomizer, which holds three things, a coil, wicking material, and e-juice. You active the device (often called a mod), and it puts power through to the atomizer, which heats the coil and turns the juice into a vapor.

So what's the deal with these things? If you've ever known someone who smoked cigarettes at one point or another, you might have an idea of just how hard it is to kick that habit. Cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals and additives, many of which (not just nicotine) contribute to one's cigarette addiction. There are hundreds of smoking cessation tools available to the public, patches, gums, even hypnotherapy. But electronic cigarettes have seen the highest success rate of any smoking cessation method. They allow a person to get the nicotine their body desires, in a way that feels familiar and allows them to lower than nicotine dosage over time.

I'm sure you've heard that the juice for e-cigs contains a variety of things, ranging from anti-freeze to formaldehyde. But in general, most any e-juice you will see contains four chemicals only. Propylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerin, Nicotine, and Natural/Artificial flavorings. Propylene Glycol is used as a base for a variety of things, flavor syrups for coffee, liquid sweeteners, nasal sprays, and the flavorings that are used in e-juice. Vegetable glycerin is used in a lot of food products due to its sweet taste. The only questionable chemical in e-juice is Diacetyl, which is used in some flavorings to provide a creamy or buttery flavor. Most juice companies are aware of this and steer clear of flavorings containing Diacetyl. I've provided an excellent video on this topic.

Onto nicotine, so here's the deal with this stuff. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance. People often think nicotine is the deadliest substance ever created, and that it sucks you in, it rots your lungs out and it tears families apart. Here's the real deal. Nicotine is addictive, however, it isn't the most deadly part of the cigarette. Nicotine is a stimulant, it has very similar effects to caffeine actually, it's just not great for the heart.

This is a wonderful and ever-expanding industry that it working to, essentially, save lives. Due to it's overwhelming success, however, Big-Tobacco, and the federal government are both starting to realize that they're losing money (cigarette sales, tobacco taxes), and want to begin regulating. Vapers support regulation, to an extent. We are for protecting children from this stuff, making sure that juices are created in a sanitary environment, making sure that devices are safe. We are not in favor of the government's ideas for taxing juices (55 cents per milliliter?), or stopping innovation in vapor products.

They are trying to kill a billion dollar industry because they are losing money that was once gained from the deaths of millions. There are plenty of organizations fighting to stop these regulations. If you want to help out, join the communities.

If you are interested in using e-cigs to quit smoking, there are hundreds of resources online to look into for help.

And here are some other YouTubers that review e-cigs, provide information and are just knowledgeable about E-Cigs.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

123443
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

27089
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

25342
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments