November 21, 2018

expert reaction to smoking rate and popularity of vaping in the U.S.

Researchers publishing in Tobacco Control argue that there is a negligible affect at the population level of vaping on the popularity of smoking. 

Prof John Britton, Director of the UK Centre for Tobacco & Alcohol Studies at the University of Nottingham, said:

“This study demonstrates that the availability of electronic cigarettes in the USA appears to have contributed to further declines in smoking among younger and older smokers, and more specifically that any gateway effect into smoking is more than offset by the effects of vaping among young people who would otherwise have smoked, and use of electronic cigarettes as a gateway away from smoking.

“The figures show similar trends to those observed in the UK, where electronic cigarettes have contributed substantial public health gains, and will hopefully help to reassure US commentators who have to date emphasised the risks of gateway progression in advocating restrictive policies on electronic cigarette use.”

‘Examining the relationship of vaping to smoking initiation among US youth and young adults: a reality check’ by David T Levy et al was published in Tobacco Control at 23.30 UK time on Tuesday 20 November 2018.

 Declared interests

None to declare.