Recently, popularity of e-cigarettes has. “E-cigs” offer a healthy alternative to traditional tobacco-based cigarettes, both for the user and those around him or her. They allow smokers to continue to feed their vice through taking in nicotine without the health hazards that burning tobacco may cause.

But is the emergence of e-cigs in popularity really beneficial in today’s society? According to USA Today’s Editorial Board, in response to a piece in favor of the topic, e-cigarettes are actually counter-productive to slowing down addiction. A big issue with their emergence is the fact that teenagers in particular are targeted for sales, most of which admitting to never having used a nicotine-based product before.

USA Today attacks the topic through a variety of evidence supporting their claim that e-cigarettes are negatively impacting todays society, but upon reading arguments both for and against emergence of e-cigarettes and by personally being around the product, my opinion is that they’re just another product.

A major concern with e-cigarettes, especially with teenage users who have not previously used a nicotine-based product, is that e-cigarettes will immediately addict a younger audience and corrupt them early on. USA Today fails to note the fact that e-cigarettes are widely available in nicotine-free options, and for that reason along with the variety of flavors offered, they are often referred to as “e-hookahs.”

While I will admit that teenagers are more susceptible to nicotine consumption due to the emergence of e-cigarettes and their targeting of a teenage audience, teenagers are not being tricked into becoming addicted to nicotine. Anyone who does not wish to consume nicotine is free to use the nicotine-free alternative to the e-cigarette that was initially intended to offer a healthy alternative to adults already addicted to nicotine.

Overall, my opinion on the debate is that the e-cigarette is just another product. Sure, there are potential drawbacks just like any product. A teen may absolutely adore energy drinks, but this does not mean they will inevitably become an alcoholic by segueing into consuming energy drinks containing alcohol. But the fact remains that yes, teenagers are a target of e-cig advertisement, and yes, teenage use has exploded recently, but nicotine-free alternatives are available and there are so far no proven health hazards them.