The study titled Socioeconomic Disparities in Electronic Cigarette Use and Transitions from Smoking, was published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research last June. The researchers analysed ever-smokers to test differences in transitions from smoking to exclusive e-cigarette use, as well as differences in product use by mental health score, level of education and income.
Additionally, dual use was significantly less likely in those with a college education and a higher income. On the other hand poor mental health was associated with a higher likelihood of both exclusive smoking and dual use, but was not significantly associated with exclusive e-cigarette use.
The importance of educating disadvantaged communities
The researchers concluded that educated smokers are more likely to switch to exclusive e-cigarette use than less educated smokers. “Such differential switching may exacerbate socioeconomic disparities in smoking-related morbidity and mortality, but lower the burden of tobacco-related disease.” This indicates that it is of the utmost importance that information about harm reduction alternatives, is made especially available to disadvantaged communities.
