A study has found that nearly a quarter of students in the United Arab Emirates have used e-cigarettes in the past month. The study, conducted at three universities in the country, reported higher rates of e-cigarette use compared to other recent studies conducted in the UAE and other Gulf regions.
Experts warn that although e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, they still pose a threat to health and could potentially serve as a gateway to more dangerous forms of smoking.
A survey was conducted among students from one private and two public universities to determine their usage and frequency of electronic cigarettes. Researchers found that 23% of respondents reported using electronic cigarettes in the past month, with 37% having tried them at some point.
Karthik Mallya, a 23-year-old Indian designer living in Dubai, says, "Almost all of my friends use e-cigarettes, only a few do not.
Researchers from Maudsley Health and Al Amal in Dubai, as well as Liverpool John Moores University in the UK, have published their findings in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. They note that electronic cigarettes are electronic devices containing liquid, nicotine, batteries, and a vaporizer that produces vapor instead of cigarette smoke. The paper highlights a study from 2021 that found only 3.7% of university students in the UAE currently use e-cigarettes.
A study conducted in Qatar in 2020 calculated this figure to be 14%, while the latest research indicates that in Saudi Arabia, scientists have found the figures to be 7.2% (in 2020) and 10.6% (in 2018).
Gender Gap in Smoking Habits
According to the researchers behind a recent study, students who use e-cigarettes are also more likely to smoke other forms of tobacco such as traditional cigarettes, hookah, or pipes. Male students accounted for about a quarter of the 240 participants in the study and were twice as likely as females to have ever used e-cigarettes. Male students tended to perceive them as less harmful than females. The researchers wrote, "This is consistent with previous research on smoking among university students in the UAE, where males are more likely to use tobacco.
The pattern of e-cigarette use appears to be widespread across the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. This could be due to smoking being more socially acceptable among men in the region, and peer influence may also play a role. Professor Kamran Siddiqi, a public health expert from the University of York who studies smoking internationally, cautioned that the latest study was based on relatively small numbers and focused specifically on university students, so it may not necessarily indicate higher rates of smoking among young people in the country. He added that it is difficult to determine whether e-cigarettes are a gateway to using combustible cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes may not necessarily be a substitute for tobacco.
He stated that although research has found that people who use electronic cigarettes are more likely to continue smoking, it does not necessarily indicate that one causes the other. Another possible explanation is the common responsibility among researchers which suggests that individuals who use electronic cigarettes are already more inclined to smoke.
Professor Siddiqi, who is not related to the latest research, stated: "In the UK, people are increasingly thinking in terms of shared responsibility because although young people are attempting to use e-cigarettes, we have not seen a significant increase in smoking." While the harm caused by e-cigarettes is "significantly reduced" compared to combustible cigarettes, it is not zero.
He stated that individuals are still inhaling liquids that may harm their lungs. Nicotine is highly addictive and can be mixed with other substances that may cause long-term damage to the lungs. The evidence shows that it is far less toxic or potentially harmful than the smoke from combustible cigarettes. In other words, nobody wants young people to use e-cigarettes.
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has described electronic cigarettes as "not completely risk-free" and only constituting "a small proportion of the risks of smoking". Unlike traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes do not produce carbon monoxide or tar. The NHS stated that these are two of the most harmful substances found in tobacco smoke.
Arjun Chandavarkar, a 22-year-old from India, credits electronic cigarettes with helping him quit smoking during his college years. He used the devices consistently throughout the day and relied on refillable equipment to stay smoke-free.
Mr. Chandavarkar, who resides in Dubai and works as a financial analyst, stated, "Most of the time, I prefer to use an electronic cigarette in the morning, usually after meals, about six to seven times a day. The frequency of my use varies, but each time I use it, it usually lasts around two minutes. It helps me completely avoid smoking cigarettes.
E-cigarette companies are targeting young smokers.
At my age, most of the people I know tend to use e-cigarettes. In about a group of 20 people, 16-17 of them would use e-cigarettes. Considering my frequency of using e-cigarettes, I go through one pod every two days, so I have to replenish four times a week. I am concerned about my health and the impact of e-cigarettes. Although it does provide a safer, healthier alternative to smoking, I have not found any research indicating that e-cigarettes are completely harmless. Nevertheless, I exercise frequently, typically working out five times a week, and I tend to believe that I am mitigating the harmful effects of e-cigarettes through my exercise regimen. However, based on my experience with e-cigarettes over the past three to four years, I have not seen any harmful effects on my body from using them.
Karthik Mallya, a 23-year-old Indian designer living in Dubai, stated that he is unsure if vaping is healthier, but it does help to relieve stress. "Almost all of my friends vape," he said.
I believe that on one hand, I can rely on a few friends who also use e-cigarettes, even if they don't use them frequently. I am definitely concerned and fully aware of the health risks associated with e-cigarette use. With limited research on the matter, I am unsure if this is a healthier alternative to smoking tobacco products. Currently, I use e-cigarettes to curb my urge to smoke. I enjoy it because it doesn't leave my clothes and hands smelling like smoke, and of course, I appreciate the variety of flavors available.
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