The Electric cigarette is meant to be a healthy alternative to the cancer-causing carcinogens and chemicals found in traditional tobacco cigarettes. But they still contain nicotine â the addictive element of cigarettes. Part of the problem may be that smoking, for many people, is a habitual addiction. Even if you could cut the nicotine down and break your body from the physical need of the drug â there's still the act of smoking as a habit that may be just as hard to quit. That is why electric cigarettes are not for those wanting to quit.