Electronic cigarettes are a relatively new technology that allows smokers to get their nicotine fix a manner that closely mimics smoking. And, while the health benefits and risks of e-smoking haven't been thoroughly evaluated, it appears to be a much safer method of smoking than tobacco cigarettes.

Here's why:

When you smoke an electronic cigarette, you're not actually smoking. Insead, the electronic cigarette device vaporizes a solution containing nicotine and propylene glycol (the substance used in theatre production fog machines), producing a fine mist which you then inhale. This allows you to get your nicotine without all the harmful chemicals typically found in tobacco cigarette smoke. See this page for more information regarding the safety of e-smoking.

The typical electronic cigarette is composed of three pieces:

• Rechargeable Battery
• Atomizer
• Replaceable Cartridge

The rechargeable battery supplies power to the atomizer, which is the component of the electronic cigarette that produces the vapor that you inhale, and the atomoizer receives the nicotine solution from the replaceable cartridge.

The rechargeable batteries last anywhere from 1 to 2 or 4 to 5 hours, depending on manufacturer, and the replaceable cartridges last anywhere from aproximately 4 to 15 cigarettes' worth of smoking, depending on e-cigarette model. Typically, replaceable cartridges can be purchased in high, medium, low, and zero nicotine strengths to suit your nicotine needs.

Many people find that the cost of e-smoking is comparable to or less than the cost of smoking tobacco cigarettes.

For information on where to buy e-cigarettes and e-smoking supplies, as well as resources regarding the safety of e-smoking, please use the menu on the left.