September 21, 2023

expert reaction to study on effect of e-cigarettes (and other reduced-risk nicotine delivery products) on smoking prevalence and cigarettes sales

A study published in Public Health Research looks at the effect of e-cigarettes on cigarette sales and smoking prevalence.

Dr Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management, Department of Health Policy and Promotion, University of Massachusetts Amhesrt, said:

“The question of whether e-cigarettes cause people to smoke is an urgent one for public health scientists and policy makers. Though young people who vape are more likely to go on to smoke than their non-vaping peers, it’s difficult to determine if one causes the other. This is a well-conducted study that is consistent with some other studies in this area which suggest that – at a population level – e-cigarettes do not appear to increase smoking rates and may possibly decrease them. However, other studies show the opposite. Collecting and analysing further detailed data on smoking and vaping rates in different countries and over longer periods of time will help provide clarity. In the meantime, this study – and some others like it – should discourage overly strong assertions that vaping leads to more people smoking than would have otherwise.”

‘Effects of reduced-risk nicotine-delivery products on smoking prevalence and cigarette sales: an observational study’ by Francesca Pesola et al. was published in Public Health Research at 12:00 noon UK time on Thursday 21 September. 

DOI: 10.3310/RPDN7327

Declared interests

Dr Jamie Hartmann-Boyce: I receive grant funding to my institution from Cancer Research UK for work on related topics.