Non-smokers likely to start using conventional cigarettes within a year of using e-cigarettes, finds study

Olivia Petter
Tuesday 16 January 2018 12:28 GMT
Comments
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Adolescents who use e-cigarettes are more likely to start smoking real cigarettes within a year, new research has found.

Scientists at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) examined data collected by a national sample of more than 10,000 non-smokers between the ages of 12 and 17.

They found that those who used alternative tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco or tobacco water pipes, were more likely to start smoking normal cigarettes those who didn’t.

“We found that teens who experimented with tobacco in any form were at greater risk of future smoking," said lead author Benjamin W. Chaffee, a professor at the UCSF School of Dentistry.

"In the last few years, research has focused on the potential of e-cigarettes to engage never-smoking adolescents in tobacco use.

“Our findings confirm that the use of the full range of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, cigars, tobacco water pipes, and smokeless tobacco, is associated with greater odds of future cigarette smoking."

The UCSF study was based on data from more than 10,000 respondents in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study, none of whom had ever tried a cigarette.

Non-cigarette tobacco products have surged in popularity in recent years, with almost 4 million senior school students using at least one in 2016, the study reports.

As for smoking the real things, it's not uncommon for teens to experiment at an early age, with previous studies showing that 90 per cent of adult smokers have tried their first cigarette before the age of 18.

The study was published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in