Recent studies have shown that teenagers are smoking traditional cigarettes much less than in the past, the so-called electronic variety has experienced a spike in popularity.

Because of additional cigarette taxes and greater awareness of negative health effects caused by smoking, cigarettes have lost much of the appeal that they once had.

Electronic cigarettes are gaining new interest among people.

“I tried to smoke e-cigarettes for a week,” said junior Marcus Crow. “It wasn’t the same as smoking a real cigarette, but it had the same satisfaction as putting something in your mouth and blowing out the same smoke. It was more like vapor and I felt like I was sitting in a sauna, but not as harsh.”

Their rapid rise in popularity has been attributed to a belief that they are less harmful due to the absence of dangerous ingredients such as ammonia, tar, and carbon monoxide. Although tobacco is still an active ingredient in the product, it is vaporized instead of smoked.

“I used to smoke cigarettes, but I realized that I was doing a lot of harm to my body,” Crow said.

Some experts believe that this product could soon take over the tobacco industry, eclipsing traditional cigarette sales. However, cigarettes are being banned in many locations including on Travis County property. The ban will be effective on April 7.

“I have a lot of friends who use e-cigarettes,” English teacher Georgina Morelle said. “One of the things they did like about it was that they could use them everywhere. Now they’re putting the same restrictions that apply to real cigarettes.”

Hookah pens are another alternative form of smoking that is gaining popularity among people.

“Hookah pens are easy and convenient,” senior Edward Gonzales said. “It’s something that’s easy to carry around with you, and it is discreet enough to do in public because it’s just water vapor.”

Hookah pens unlike e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco and only sometimes nicotine. Some students believe that Hookah is a common and accepted activity in other cultures, as well as safer and healthier.

“Some Hookah pens according to their potency have different levels of nicotine and it can be harsh depending on whether or not you smoke it for a long time,” Crow said.

The main difference in both of these devices is that e-cigarettes always contain nicotine. The FDA still hasn’t approved of e cigarettes and dies shows signs that it may be a form of second hand smoke.

“I still think that health wise, e-cigarettes are not a good idea.” health teacher Juanita Soto said.

Despite e-cigarettes containing nicotine, the cost is much less than a traditional cigarette. Because it is a fairly new product no long-term health effects are not yet known.

“I know someone who had a lot of issues with asthma because she smoked cigarettes so she started using e-cigarettes and it actually cut down on her asthma attacks,” health teacher Juanita Soto said. “But it be better to not smoke at all.”

Hookah pens, like regular hookah, use shisha, which is a type of tobacco used commonly in the Middle East.

Both products appear to be less harmful than traditional cigarettes, but little medical data exists on the long-term health effects of these devices.

“Just because it’s water vapor I don’t think anyone should be fooled into thinking they’re completely healthy, but if you do smoke cigarettes I think it’s a healthier alternative,” junior Emilio Lindquist said.

But because the contents of tube can vary, the decision is whether the user would prefer a product just for fun or for the nicotine.

“I think people need to be very careful of what they’re putting in the e-cigarettes because sometimes you’re buying it from different companies and they might still be putting some of the toxins in their,” Soto said.