(Photo: Photo by Ernst-Günther Krause (NID) on Unsplash) Study Debunks Smoking Gateway Myth: Vaping Not Linked to Cigarette Smoking
In an international study led by Queen Mary University of London, researchers have made a significant stride in understanding the relationship between vaping and cigarette smoking.
Contrary to the long-standing concern that vaping could serve as a gateway to traditional smoking, the study has yielded a surprising and reassuring finding: there is no sign that e-cigarettes and other alternative nicotine delivery products promote smoking.
In fact, there is evidence suggesting that they might be competing against cigarettes, potentially accelerating the decline of smoking.
Challenging the Gateway Hypothesis
The notion that vaping could lead individuals to pick up smoking has been a contentious issue for years. However, this comprehensive analysis, encompassing multiple countries and regions, has dealt a serious blow to the smoking gateway myth.
Professor Peter Hajek, Director of the Health and Lifestyle Research Unit at Queen Mary University of London, emphasized the study's findings: "The results of this study alleviate the concern that access to e-cigarettes and other low-risk nicotine products promotes smoking."
"There is no sign of that, and there are some signs that they, in fact, compete against cigarettes," Hajek states.
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Competing Against Cigarettes
One of the most striking revelations from the study is the evidence suggesting that vaping and alternative nicotine products may be competing against traditional cigarettes.
While this finding is tentative and requires further investigation, it raises intriguing possibilities for tobacco harm reduction.
Speaking with Inquirer.net, Joey Dulay, president of the Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association, shared his perspective, noting, "Among our peers, I have not seen any vaper turn into a smoker. It is either they continue to use e-cigarettes or quit altogether."
"In fact, I know a lot of former smokers who are now using e-cigarettes, which are far less harmful than combustible tobacco," Dulay notes.
Policy Implications
The study's results hold significant policy implications, particularly in the context of upcoming events such as the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control's 10th Conference of Parties (COP10) scheduled for November 20 to 25, 2023.
To better understand the impact of vaping regulations, the study compared countries with differing e-cigarette regulations.
It contrasted the United Kingdom and the United States, where e-cigarettes are accessible, with Australia, where sales of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are banned.
The results revealed that the decline in smokers in Australia has been slower than in the UK, suggesting a potential link between regulation and smoking rates.
Furthermore, the study examined interactions between smoking and nicotine alternatives in countries like Sweden, where oral nicotine pouches are popular, and Japan and South Korea, where products heat rather than burn tobacco.
Notably, Japan experienced a significant decrease in cigarette sales alongside the increase in heated tobacco product sales.
It is important to note that the UK has already started measures to counter the usage of e-cigarettes and disposable vapes amid cases of addiction among the youth.
The Need for Further Research
While these findings are promising, the researchers stress the need for more comprehensive and extended studies to confirm the long-term effects of vaping and alternative nicotine products.
As Professor Brian Ferguson, Director of the Public Health Research Programme (NIHR), put it, "The initial findings from this study are valuable, but no firm conclusions can be drawn yet."
"More research is needed in this area to understand further the impact that alternative nicotine delivery products, such as e-cigarettes, might have on smoking rates," Ferguson explains.
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