A recent study from Queen Mary University in London suggests that vaping may not lead people to start smoking cigarettes. Instead, it could be replacing traditional tobacco cigarette use. The study found no evidence linking alternative nicotine products like e-cigarettes to an increased likelihood of picking up smoking. In fact, the researchers believe that these products might be helping reduce the prevalence of traditional cigarette smoking.
Vaping considered a competitor to traditional smoking
Despite the acknowledgement of the shift towards vaping products as a competitor to traditional tobacco products data is still preliminary. Researchers aim to use their findings to address concerns about the widespread availability of vaping products, particularly in the United Kingdom.
Despite Australia’s vaping ban, a study conducted by Queen Mary University (QMU) reveals that Australians are struggling to quit smoking cigarettes, taking longer than Brits. Furthermore, young people and those with lower socioeconomic status in Australia are quitting tobacco at a slower rate than their counterparts in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Access to vaping products doesn’t encourage smoking
In this study, Professor Peter Hajek from QMU’s Health and Lifestyle Research Unit suggests that access to e-cigarettes and similar low-risk nicotine products does not appear to encourage smoking. Instead, there are indications that these products may even compete with traditional cigarettes. However, more extensive and long-term data analysis is necessary to accurately assess the extent of this effect.
Professor Lion Shahab, Co-director of the UCL Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group said that the analysis offers reassurance that countries with a progressive approach to e-cigarettes have not witnessed a negative impact on smoking rates. In fact, it suggests that e-cigarettes may have replaced harmful cigarettes in these countries. However, given the rapidly evolving nature of this field with new technologies emerging yearly, ongoing monitoring of national data is essential. , emphasizes the need for continued scrutiny.
The study highlights that many people use both vapes and cigarettes, leading to overlapping data. Therefore, more time and sales data are required to confirm if individuals are switching from cigarettes to exclusive vaping.
