Newswise — A recent study has revealed that while vaping can serve as a potential aid for smokers seeking to quit, it may act as an initial step towards smoking for individuals who are non-smokers. The research, led by Andre Mason, a postgraduate student at the University of Otago, in collaboration with Associate Professor Damian Scarf from the Department of Psychology, presents its findings in the Drug and Alcohol Review, published on June 28.
The study delved into data pertaining to the smoking and vaping habits of individuals in New Zealand, gathered from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values survey conducted between 2018 and 2020. Associate Professor Scarf notes that, in general, smoking prevalence exhibited a declining trend over time, while vaping prevalence showed an upward trajectory. Interestingly, the likelihood of transitioning from smoking to vaping or vice versa did not exhibit any significant differences, indicating that both pathways were equally probable.
The survey results were analyzed for the three-year period starting in 2018. It was observed that the proportion of survey participants who smoked decreased with each time point (7.4%, 6.2%, and 5.2%, respectively), while the prevalence of individuals who vaped increased (2.8%, 2.9%, and 3.4%, respectively).
Notably, in 2018, those who vaped demonstrated a higher likelihood of initiating smoking compared to smokers starting to vape. However, in 2019, the opposite effect was observed, indicating a shift in the dynamics between vaping and smoking initiation.
Vaping has witnessed a significant surge in popularity on a global scale. Recent estimates indicate that Aotearoa New Zealand ranks second in terms of ever using (15.5 percent) or current use (7.8 percent) of nicotine vaping products worldwide. In 2022, approximately 81 million individuals globally were estimated to be vapers, marking a 39 percent increase from 58 million in 2018 and a staggering 103 percent increase from 21 million in 2012.
According to Mr. Mason, the perception of vaping as a beneficial tool for smoking cessation has been met with inconsistent evidence thus far. In contrast to previous studies, the researchers discovered no reliable evidence supporting vaping as an effective pathway for quitting smoking.
"Instead, we observed frequent transitions between smoking and vaping, and vice versa. While many individuals remained consistent with their reported behavior at previous time points, there were individuals who transitioned between both smoking and vaping," explains Mr. Mason.
These findings provide crucial insights into the potential adverse effects of vaping and underscore the necessity for stricter policies.
He points out that, contrary to expectations, vaping has not emerged as a viable substitute for smoking aimed at helping individuals quit. Instead, it has become another smoking-related behavior in its own right.
Although the prevalence of smoking has decreased over time, the lack of evidence supporting vaping as an effective cessation tool suggests that factors other than vaping may be contributing to the decline. This could include marketing campaigns highlighting the negative health effects of smoking and the increased costs associated with purchasing cigarettes.
Moreover, a concerning finding is that vaping appears to be just as likely to increase the uptake of cigarette smoking as it is to facilitate smoking cessation.
These findings emphasize the need for policy discussions to consider harm reduction from a comprehensive perspective, rather than solely focusing on the notion that if vaping is less harmful than cigarettes, it should be less regulated to encourage smokers to transition to healthier behaviors.
RSS