Are they really safer than regular cigarettes?

Yes. According to an extensive report written by the prestigious Royal College of Physicians, “e-cigarette use is unlikely to exceed 5% of the harm from smoking tobacco.” They go on to say, “in the interests of public health, it’s important to promote the use of e-cigarettes, NRT, and other non-tobacco nicotine products as widely as possible as a substitute for smoking.” Read more here.