Are e cigarettes safer than cigarettes? UPMC MyHealth Matters Can Vaping or E cigarettes Damage your Lungs? Are These More Harmful Than Regular Cigarettes? Most e cigarettes (vapes) contain nicotinethe addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products. Nicotine can harm the adolescent brain which continues developing until about Myth: E cigarettes help people quit smoking. Truth: E cigarettes are not a proven safe way to quit. In fact, users may become addicted to both traditional and electronic tobacco products. Choose health. Say