E-cigarettes were originally introduced as a product to help cigarette smokers kick their nicotine addiction and quit smoking. Less directly harmful than tobacco cigarettes, they were intended for short-term use until one kicked the habit altogether. In recent years, though, e-cigarettes and vaping have become a popular social activity of their own unrelated to quitting smoking. Although these products are free of many of the harmful elements found in traditional cigarettes, they still contain the addictive chemical nicotine and other elements detrimental to health. They are not, as some common misconceptions suggest, a perfectly safe alternative to smoking. It's important for teens, whose developing bodies can be especially susceptible to such dangers, to understand exactly what they're putting in their lungs and blood when they vape and how it really affects them.