Teens using e-cigs twice as likely to try tobacco
TEENAGERS who use electronic cigarettes are nearly twice as likely to go on to smoke tobacco, a major study shows.
Researchers say e-cigarettes get children hooked on nicotine after they become attracted by their flavours and lower perceived harm.
The study of 10,000 American teens will fuel growing concerns that vaping acts as a gateway to smoking.
Researchers questioned 12 to 17year-olds twice, with a year between the interviews. Of those who had never smoked before, teens were 87% more likely to try traditional cigarettes in the intervening year if they had ever used e-cigarettes.
The scientists, from the University of California, also found other forms of tobacco increased the chances the children would try cigarettes.
They said: ‘Any use of e-cigarettes, hookah, non-cigarette combustible tobacco, or smokeless tobacco was independently associated with cigarette smoking one year later.’
The researchers believe that e-cigarette use provides a ‘catalyst’ which triggers a ‘causal pathway from initial use of e-cigarettes to tobacco smoking among youths’.
Writing in the JAMA medical journal, they said e-cigarettes are ‘initially favoured by youths’ because of the ‘flavours, social acceptability and lower perceived harm’.
But then there is a ‘transition to smoking through nicotine dependence, increasing accessibility and other pathways’.
The scientists admitted that people who try e-cigarettes may also be more prone to rebellion. But they found that even when they took risktaking into account, such users were still more likely to take up tobacco.
But other health experts view e-cigarettes as a tool in the fight against tobacco. Public Health England endorsed the devices last year.
Some though are concerned about unresolved safety claims and their use among young people. A study last year found Canadian teenagers who had used e-cigarettes were 79% more likely to become daily tobacco smokers a year later.
E-cigarettes contain liquid nicotine that is heated into vapour to be inhaled, avoiding the harm caused by tobacco smoke.
‘Provides a catalyst’