A recent study carried out by oncology and tobacco specialists from the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, and published in the specialist journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, highlights the potential benefits of the use of electronic cigarettes for people looking to quit traditional tobacco. This research highlights the constant evolution of vaping devices and the importance of basing public health decisions on up-to-date, population-representative data.
At the heart of this study is the analysis of data collected by the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) survey which examines smoking cessation trends in the United States between 2013 and 2021. The results indicate a notable change in smoking cessation behaviors, particularly visible from 2018. While smoking cessation rates among e-cigarette users and non-users were similar between 2013 and 2016, a significant difference appears in the following years. Between 2018 and 2021, 31% of smokers using electronic cigarettes quit smoking, compared to only 20% of non-users.
This period coincides with the increase in popularity of e-liquids containing nicotine salts, which allow a higher concentration of nicotine while reducing irritation, as well as the improvement in vaping device technology promoting better delivery of nicotine. Additionally, increased tobacco control efforts during this period may have contributed to these results.
The study's authors, including lead researcher Professor Karin Kasza, emphasize the importance of continuing to analyze the factors influencing these trends. They affirm that these recent discoveries confirm the potential role of vaping in smoking cessation and the importance of maintaining regular scientific monitoring to effectively guide public health policies.
