I quit smoking on December 12th of last year. I smoked for 35 years and I tried multiple ways of quitting, all to no avail. I switched to vaporizing. I feel that this may be an un-familiar term, so I will explain. Electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes or personal vaporizers) are an alternative to tobacco cigarettes. They are battery-operated devices that create a mist or vapor that is inhaled instead of smoke. The rechargeable battery powers a heating element called an atomizer. The element uses low heat to turn liquid in the cartridge, which contains propylene glycol, glycerin, food flavoring and nicotine, into a fog-like mist. In learning about using a vaporizer, I was told that inhaling it into my lungs would not work; the walls of our lungs won’t absorb it. The vapor particles, being liquid, are larger than smoke particles. What I have to do is keep the vapor within my mouth for proper absorption. I don’t smoke. My experience is that I can smell, I can taste, my lung capacity has increased, and my doctor says my lab results all show improvement and my weight loss is commendable. Since I can smell, I realize just how stinky smokers are, even if they are not smoking. I started, just 80 days ago, and I have already lowered the nicotine content by a third. Like so many others, I intend to be nicotine free in the near future. However, I think I will still use a vaporizer for the taste. I like to say that when my wife eats a piece of apple pie in the evening, I taste a great apple pie through my using a vaporizer. Below is a portion of a news article covering a study done by the Drexel university School of Public Health. PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2013/PRNewwire-USNewswire — E-cigarette users can breathe a little easier today. A study just released by Professor Igor Burstyn, Drexel University School of Public Health, confirms that chemicals in electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) pose no health concern for users or bystanders. This is the first definitive study of e-cigarette chemistry and finds that there are no health concerns based on generally accepted exposure limits. By reviewing over 9,000 observations about the chemistry of the vapor and the liquid in e-cigarettes, Dr. Burstyn was able to determine that the levels of contaminants e-cigarette users are exposed to are insignificant, far below levels that would pose any health risk. Additionally, there is no health risk to bystanders. Proposals to ban e-cigarettes in places where smoking is banned have been based on concern there is a potential risk to bystanders, but the study shows there is no concern. It is frustrating for those that have switched to vaporizers to keep hearing that using a vaporizer is just so awful and that it should be treated as such. People that use medical vaporizers are not so discriminated against. I am not against nicotine being unavailable to those under 18. I look at the effects of alcohol, why is that not addressed? I am doing the right thing for myself, and those that stand near me. Don’t discriminate against people changing for the better.