Using E-cigarettes to Quit Smoking
Cigarette smoking is associated with many negative health effects, including increased risk of stroke, heart attack, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and more. These risks are largely due to the large quantity of chemicals in cigarettes, many of which are addictive as well as harmful to the lungs and blood. In recent years, as these risks have become more well-known, for many individuals who smoke, stopping cigarette use has become an important goal.
Electronic cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigarettes, are often marketed as a tool to help smokers quit using cigarettes. Tobacco companies often promote e-cigarettes in their advertisements, claiming that using e-cigarettes will help satisfy one’s craving for cigarettes while keeping them away from the more harmful effects of the “real deal.” As such, many cigarette smokers utilize e-cigarettes when trying to avoid smoking cigarettes or as a way to prevent relapse when quitting. However, a recent study has shown that using e-cigarettes may not help smokers quit but instead makes them more likely to relapse.
In this recent study, researchers surveyed numerous adults about their smoking habits. Those that had been regularly smoking for three or more years were identified as “established smokers.” This same population was given another survey the following year. Any individuals who had quit in the last 12 months (prior to when the study was conducted) were identified as “recently quit.” In the third and final survey, individuals who were identified as “recently quit” were asked if they had relapsed. All of these surveys also asked about the individual’s use of e-cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigarettes, are often marketed as a tool to help smokers quit using cigarettes. Tobacco companies often promote e-cigarettes in their advertisements, claiming that using e-cigarettes will help satisfy one’s craving for cigarettes while keeping them away from the more harmful effects of the “real deal.” As such, many cigarette smokers utilize e-cigarettes when trying to avoid smoking cigarettes or as a way to prevent relapse when quitting. However, a recent study has shown that using e-cigarettes may not help smokers quit but instead makes them more likely to relapse.
In this recent study, researchers surveyed numerous adults about their smoking habits. Those that had been regularly smoking for three or more years were identified as “established smokers.” This same population was given another survey the following year. Any individuals who had quit in the last 12 months (prior to when the study was conducted) were identified as “recently quit.” In the third and final survey, individuals who were identified as “recently quit” were asked if they had relapsed. All of these surveys also asked about the individual’s use of e-cigarettes.
Image Source: Markus Spiske
The study was merely observational, not experimental. This means that the researchers could not assume that certain smoking habits caused relapse. But, the researchers could nonetheless observe relationships between an individual's smoking habits and whether they relapsed. The surveys were distributed to men and women of different races/ethnicities and repeated with two different populations of adults in the United States, making it a representative sample of the general population.
The study’s results showed that those who were trying to quit smoking by using e-cigarettes without smoking regular cigarettes were more likely to eventually relapse compared to those who did not use any form of e-cigarette when attempting to quit. This information suggests that using e-cigarettes when trying to quit cigarette smoking may not necessarily help individuals end their smoking habits. In fact, if the results of this study are accurate and generalizable, e-cigarettes may even do more harm than good. These findings are important considering they dispute one of the major marketed advantages of e-cigarettes.
As e-cigarettes grow more popular, it is important to inform individuals about the true effects of using e-cigarettes and how they impact a smoker’s ability to quit. It is also critical that more research be done on e-cigarettes before labeling them as a safer alternative to regular cigarettes.
The study’s results showed that those who were trying to quit smoking by using e-cigarettes without smoking regular cigarettes were more likely to eventually relapse compared to those who did not use any form of e-cigarette when attempting to quit. This information suggests that using e-cigarettes when trying to quit cigarette smoking may not necessarily help individuals end their smoking habits. In fact, if the results of this study are accurate and generalizable, e-cigarettes may even do more harm than good. These findings are important considering they dispute one of the major marketed advantages of e-cigarettes.
As e-cigarettes grow more popular, it is important to inform individuals about the true effects of using e-cigarettes and how they impact a smoker’s ability to quit. It is also critical that more research be done on e-cigarettes before labeling them as a safer alternative to regular cigarettes.
Featured Image Source: Clear Cannabis
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