A new study has found that e-cigarettes are less addictive than conventional cigarettes.
In addition to being less addictive, e-cigarettes are less toxic than conventional cigarettes, Jonathan Foulds, PhD, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, and colleagues reported in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
The researchers created a 158-item online survey that was completed by 3,609 participants who formerly smoked cigarettes and now use e-cigarettes. The survey included both the Penn State Cigarette Dependence Index and the Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index.
Their responses indicated that participants had much lower dependence on e-cigarettes compared with conventional cigarettes. Those who used e-cigarettes with higher nicotine concentrations and those who used e-cigarettes for longer periods had higher dependences. However, even those with higher e-cigarette dependence still had lower e-cigarette dependence scores than cigarette dependence scores.
Although these results indicate that e-cigarettes are less addictive than traditional cigarettes, the researchers noted that e-cigarettes have not been regulated by the FDA for those attempting to quit smoking.
“It has the potential to do good and help a lot of people quit, but it also has the potential to do harm,” said Foulds. “Continuing to smoke and use e-cigarettes may not reduce health risks. Kids who have never smoked might begin nicotine addiction with e-cigarettes.”
He added more research is still needed to determine the long-term safety and effects of e-cigarette use.
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Health Implications of Cigarette Smoking
More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides and murders combined, according to the CDC.The good news: Nearly 70% of smokers want to quit,…
Are e-cigarettes effective as a smoking cessation aid? This is a controversial question. Some studies claim the devices help smokers quit, while others suggest e-cigarettes may encourage tobacco smoking and may even be a gateway to illicit drug use. A new study adds to the debate, suggesting that e-cigarettes are much less addictive than conventional cigarettes.
The research team — including Jonathan Foulds, professor of public health sciences and psychiatry at the College of Medicine at Pennsylvania State University — published their findings in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
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