Dual Users of Tobacco and E-cigarettes Likely to Continue Smoking

According to a new study published in the journal "Tobacco Control," the majority of adults who both smoke and use electronic cigarettes are likely to continue smoking or continue to use both for the long term.

Researchers surveyed 545 dual users in waves one to five (2013/2014 to 2018/2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study in the United States.

Over the course of six years of data, nearly half of the participants (42%) followed the pattern of quitting smoking early but continuing to use e-cigarettes, which has become the most common mode. Only 10% of participants quit both e-cigarettes and tobacco smoking early, while 15% of dual users continued to use both products.

The frequency of both traditional cigarette and electronic cigarette use, nicotine dependence, and use of other tobacco products, including marijuana, all have an impact. Dual users with lower frequency of traditional cigarette use in the first wave are more likely to quit smoking early or gradually quit smoking.

This is an observational study, with product usage based on self-reporting and not verified through biochemical testing. There is no information available on usage patterns between individuals.

Our research findings indicate that reducing smoking can help dual-users quit both products. Additionally, for those who are unable or unwilling to quit smoking, reducing smoking can help them transition to exclusive use of e-cigarettes," the author wrote.

Their findings also indicate that "electronic cigarettes did not contribute to smoking cessation in humans before 2019. Considering the rapid development of the electronic cigarette market, it is necessary to continue monitoring their trajectory and predicting factors," the authors wrote in a press release.