
Two Studies Collide on E-Cigarettes
It looks like the e-cigarette debate is lighting up again, as researchers establish that they can help smokers quit, but make non-smokers start. Two studies that are practically dueling each other are trying to reveal pros and cons, but they are both stuck in the vicious circle, pointing fingers to each other and giving no final verdict.
Let’s start with the basics: e-cigarettes are cigarette-looking devices that are powered up by a battery. They heat up a liquid that contains nicotine and create a mist that is inhaled by the smoker. This process is now widely known as vaping, a lighter version of smoking.
While a study conducted by high school students, which was published in the Journal American Medical Association (JAMA), suggested that people who tried e-cigarettes are exposed to trying traditional cigarettes too, health experts have failed to provide accurate insight as to how healthy or unhealthy e-cigarettes actually are.
In short, the previously mentioned research was conducted over a six-month period and kept in touch with approximately 2,500 US students. It was concluded that around one third of the e-cigarette users attempted to smoke other types of tobacco. The traditional smokers had a way lower “try rate” as only 8 percent of them tried other forms of tobacco.
Professor Peter Hajek, from the University of London, interpreted this result in a different manner, stating that “the people who were attracted to e-cigarettes are, in fact, the same people who are attracted to smoking”. His interpretation was also enforced by professor Simon Chapman from the University of Sydney.
“Critics of studies say that it’s simply because the ones who smoke e-cigarettes are the ones who are risk-takers… it’s a plausible response, except … it’s likely there are going to be quite a few people within those kids who took up vaping who may have never taken up cigarettes otherwise.”
Professor Chapman believes that once teenagers had crossed the line, tier interest would grow and there might be no coming back from that. But he also mentioned that e-cigarettes are well known for being less dangerous to health than traditional cigarettes, especially after researchers from Public Health England found out that they could help smokers give up the habit for good.
In the end, the second study demonstrated that there is no link between e-cigarettes and picking up smoking, contrary to the JAMA’s results.
It seems as though proper information can deb found by investigating the matter further or by simply accepting that smoking is a decision-based activity. Anybody can do it as long as they believe they can do it and want to do it.
Photo Credits healthcare-newjersey.com
QUOTE: “it’s likely there are going to be quite a few people within those kids who took up vaping who may have never taken up cigarettes otherwise.” – Simon Chapman
Simon Chapman should be aware of three recent major surveys of teens in the UK, looking into their e-cigarette use. All three studies found that the percentage of never smokers who went on to become regular vapers was tiny. Less than one percent. The surveys were conducted by Cancer Research UK, anti-smoking charity, Ash UK and National Health Wales.
If Mr Chapman seriously thinks that teens who take up vaping are going to then go on to spend £8 on a packet of rolled up leaves that taste like a garden fire and will give them rasping coughs and smelly clothes, when they could spend much less vaping pleasant apple or cherry flavored e-liquid, he needs to get out more!
The problem with Simon Chapman is he ignores anything that doesn’t fit in with his preconceived ideas – he made up his mind early that vaping was evil, and is now having trouble backing down. It’s a shame he values his ego before all else.
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I started smoking as a kid. Ecigs should have been available back then. Vaping with competent devices is superior to smoking in every respect. Speaking as a former smokder (thanks to ecigs) who started as a kid, I’m doubtful that ecigs will turn out to be a “gateway” to smoking. For experimenting kids ecigs make more clouds to impress your friends (more fun) and ecig flavors make cigarettes taste terrible. Currently vaping costs me about 1/5 the money I was spending on smoking and when I start making my own eliquids the cost will go to 1/10 of smoking. Money is short for kids too.
In the mean time Public Health England, a government agency, has concluded that ecigs are 95% less harmful than smoking and smokers should switch.