The images of the Marlboro man are a thing of the past, but the makers of new electronic cigarettes hope they are a thing of the future.

Electronic cigarettes are metal/plastic cigarettes that heat a solution of nicotine and allow smokers to inhale just the nicotine and not the harmful carcinogens that regular cigarettes contain.

The purchase of these electronic cigarettes is on the rise, and many users believe it will help them stop smoking.

Boston University recently conducted a survey of 5,000 people who recently purchased e-cigarettes, and of the people who responded, 70 percent responded they had cut down the amount of cigarettes they consumed after six months and the rest had quit.

The FDA has done little research regarding e-cigarettes and plans to conduct some research in the future.

Even though they have done little research, the FDA has sent out many letters to manufacturers of e-cigarettes informing them of their poor manufacturing standards.

UNA sophomore Addison Barrett smokes electronic cigarettes and uses them to quit smoking regular cigarettes.

“Its a lot healthier to me than regular cigarettes,” Barrett said. “It’s worth it to smoke them.

“You still get the nicotine, which is not good for you, but there aren’t things like tar and cyanide.”

Barrett said she can feel a little better smoking the e-cigarettes knowing that the poisons that exist in actual cigarettes are not there. Barrett said from what she understands, there are no carcinogens in her e-cigarette.

According to manufacturers, e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, or create the smoke that typically comes from smoking a regular cigarette.

The main thing Barrett likes about her electronic cigarettes is that she can smoke them inside a building or house.

“It helped my sinuses,” she said. “I used to get sick all the time with bronchitis and other lung illnesses.”

“They make you feel better all around,” she said. “You cut out most of the health problems that come from smoking.

“I like the freedom of them, you can smoke them everywhere.”

Barrett likes the fact that her electronic cigarettes do not make her clothes and home have a cigarette odor.

On average, Barrett said she went to the infirmary once a month when she smoked regular cigarettes and has not been since she started smoking e-cigarettes.

In Florence, smokers can buy electronic cigarettes at Tobacco Express and One Luv.

Tobacco Express is located at 3302 Florence Boulevard and One Luv is located in downtown Florence at 120 West Mobile Street.