The advantages and disadvantages of electronic cigarettes

It has been part of everyday life for some years now. France counts 4 million users of it, while its critics, on the contrary, are still filling column inches on the subject. We are talking, of course, about the electronic cigarette. So, as even-handedly as possible, here are the arguments put forward for and against the e-cigarette.

What users put to the credit of the electronic cigarette

Control over the nicotine level

Unlike the cigarette, its electronic namesake gives complete control over the quantity of nicotine consumed. E-liquids come in different nicotine strengths, and there are versions without any at all.

What users say about stopping cigarettes

It is something many e-cig users report: according to them, the electronic cigarette helped them stop smoking cigarettes, and fairly easily at that. They put that down to managing the nicotine level, but above all to keeping the gesture, which is part of the dependence. The experience, different though it remains, also has something in common with the cigarette in terms of touch, taste and sometimes even smell.

No ash and no butts

Users say they find the e-cigarette satisfying, both for the many flavours available in e-liquids and for the vapour it gives off. They also point out that it preserves the social link that had formed around conventional cigarettes.

Lastly, the e-cigarette produces no waste, unlike the conventional cigarette, which scatters ash and leaves butts that are sometimes difficult to recycle. It also leaves only a faint smell in the air, one that disappears very quickly.

The weak points of the electronic cigarette

Nicotine addiction

Even though it allows users to manage their nicotine dependence, a smoker who has no intention of stopping will go on taking nicotine in.

Some models are used by young people

The e-cigarette remains a product for adults and one that can lead to nicotine dependence. Young people, however, see it as a fashionable object and use it even when they are not smokers. These devices are not harmless: the same health risks as those caused by conventional cigarettes are attributed to them, including tumours, cardiovascular disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.