According to the latest research from the University of Queensland, the majority of teenagers who try e-cigarettes on a global scale do not become addicted, but the way tobacco products are taxed may increase the use of e-cigarettes among young people.
Dr. Gary Chan, the lead author of the UQ National Youth Substance Use Research Centre, stated that UQ's research analyzed data from nearly 152,000 adolescents in 47 countries who participated in the World Health Organization's (WHO) tobacco survey between 2015 and 2018.
Dr. Gary Chan stated, "Our research has found that the sustained use of e-cigarettes in low- to middle-income countries is low. Out of every 12 adolescents, only one reported using e-cigarettes within the last 30 days, and out of every 60 adolescents, only one reported using e-cigarettes for more than 10 days within the last 30 days.
He believes that there may be two reasons why young people use e-cigarettes less frequently.
E-cigarettes are typically sold in colorful packaging with a variety of flavors that appeal to young people, which may lead to experimentation but not necessarily continued use. While some e-cigarettes contain high levels of nicotine, there are also non-nicotine or low-nicotine options that are less addictive. According to Dr. Gary Chan, "We found that higher tobacco taxes are associated with higher rates of e-cigarette use among young people. This may indicate that young people in countries with high tobacco taxes are turning to e-cigarettes as an alternative to traditional cigarettes. We hope these findings will be used to develop and implement comprehensive global strategies and policies to limit the increase of e-cigarette use in middle and low-income countries.
A previous study found that short video platforms expose young people to videos that enhance positive attitudes towards e-cigarettes and their use with much less mention of the health consequences. Dr. Gary Chan suggests that given these videos' accessibility to young people and the increasing rates of e-cigarette use, age-restriction measures should be implemented on social media platforms.
Source: NEWS MEDICAL
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