I contemplated to myself when I wanted to try an e-cigarette for the first time, "can it be worse for me than a regular tobacco cigarette?" No way, I thought. How on earth can some type of nicotine juice, vaporized with a clean burning filament and inhaled, be as harmful as a real tobacco cigarette?

Are there risks? Yes. Are there the same risks as a real cigarette? No way. I'm no scientist, but come on. Let me think this through for a second. There are only a couple of risks that I can think of right now.

Nicotine risks: Sure, nicotine is an addictive drug which affects the human body as a stimulant (and relaxant) and can be overdosed, but it is not regarded as a carcinogen. Granted, nicotine can cause serious problems if overdosed, so there is always that risk; but as with caffeine, ibuprofen, alcohol, I don't plan on doing this. ODing on milk duds, diet Dr. Pepper, and Skittles might be more of a danger to me.

Toxic juice risks: In my opinion, this is the main risk to e-cigarettes. Unsavory vendors of vapor juice can use unhealthy ingredients in their juices. Alcohol can cause serious problems if smoked via an e cigarette. I have heard terrible tales of lung bleeding, oral infections/sores, and other burn like effects from smokers using alcohol laced juices. My vendor also pleads all of his customers to stay clear of alcohol, ethylene glycol, or dietheylene glycol which can all be toxic for your body. Albeit cheaper, they are not worth the risks. Studies are currently in progress to determine the effects of e cigarette on your health, but NO WAY could it be unhealthier than real tobacco cigarettes. I am willing to bet my health on it.

Open flame risks: None. The e cigarette does not use combustion nor an open flame to burn its juice. It uses an atomizer which has a small filament which heats up enough to convert the propylene glycol (or vegetable glycerin) into a vapor mist. No more burning butts escaping your cigarette's hold and falling in your crotch while driving. No more accidental holes in your couch when one gets away and drops into your couch's abyss.

Economical risks: Granted you could go nuts, but compared to real cigarettes, smoking e-cigarettes is more economical on a 1-to-1 comparison. Meaning that if you smoke the same e-liquid to correspond to your real cigarette smoking habit, your monthly costs will be considerable less. I go nuts, so my personal savings is not much more, but I'm healthier and enjoy "vaping" much more.

Social risks: I only know of a few places where smoking an e cigarette is frowned upon. On a plane, in a public school classroom, and my doctor's examination room......and the latter two places are probably just my personal etiquette kicking in as opposed to an actual rule. So far no one has asked me to "put it away" or "that's bothering me" or "get rid of that thing." No social risks for me.

Well, as I thought these things through, there was no way I was going to let this chance pass me up. The ability to eliminate the carcinogens and toxins of a real cigarette out of my life and switch to a more flavorful, socially accepting nicotine delivery system. Nicotine is an inherent risk and the e cigarette juices you buy are risky, but with proper attention to the ingredients, you should be able to minimize this risk.

Finally, I thought, even if e-cigarettes had 2,000 harmful toxins and additives, it would still be half of those found in a real cigarette. No comparison.