Oswego (WSYR-TV) - They're called electronic cigarettes, and manufacturers claim smokers can get a nicotine fix without the harmful agents that typically cause cancer.
Monday, we spoke with smokers and a doctor about the device.
It's a bad habit, but one e-cigarette smoker Jon Beeles feels better about now that he's bypassing the tar and smoke.
“Eventually I knew I was going to have to quit. I just saw this ... if I can pick this up and not have to buy cigarettes ever again, I'm all for it,” says Beeles.
An e-cigarette is made up of three parts: A battery, a heating element and a refillable cartridge that holds nicotine.
So what's the problem? E-cigarettes are untested, and they make doctors like SUNY Upstate's Leslie Kohman nervous.
“I am concerned because it's being advertised as a safe alternative to smoking, and there is no substantiation for that. It is sold in flavors which may make it attractive to children. And there is potential for nicotine poisoning and nicotine toxicity,” Kohman says.
Jon and his five roommates aren't worried. They see greater harm in what they call "analog cigarettes," and enjoy telling others about the alternative.
“Your clothes don't stink; you don't have ashtrays in your house. It's a lot cleaner,” Beeles says.
The number one question Beeles gets from smokers? Where does he buy e-cigarettes, and how much do they cost.
He buys it all online. A starter kit runs between $50 and $100, and Beeles says he spends anywhere from $30 to $50 a month to keep up his habit.
Doctors do not recommend you try e-cigarettes, but instead encourage smokers to try FDA-approved nicotine delivery devices, like the patch and gum.
