The research led by the Health Promotion Agency and recently published in the scientific journal Addictive Behaviours, has found that over half (56.5 percent) of current smokers, had at least tried e-cigarettes. And while approximately one in six Kiwi adults have tried the devices, only 2 percent are current users.
Daily vaping was highest among current smokers, at 3.1%, and amongst former smokers, at 9%.
Paper co-author, Professor Richard Edwards, who is Co-Director of the ASPIRE 2025 Research Group at the University of Otago, Wellington, pointed out that daily vaping is highest among amongst former smokers at 9%, and current smokers at 3.1%. On the other hand, contrary to the ongoing alarmist claims across the US, no daily use was recorded amongst people who have never smoked.
“The findings from this nationally representative survey of adult New Zealanders give us a snapshot for how the use of e-cigarettes is developing,” said Professor Edwards. “The information from the survey will help monitor the uptake of e-cigarettes and provide evidence about their impact on smoking. It could also help in the development of interventions aiming to enhance the contribution of e-cigarettes to reducing smoking and its adverse health effects in Aotearoa.”
These findings should inform debates about e-cigarettes
Professor Edwards added that these findings should inform future debates about the pros and cons of e-cigarettes, and their potential role is helping New Zealand reach its Smokefree 2025 goal. “The finding that people who have never smoked are not using these products is reassuring, as is the relatively high use among recent quitters, as this suggests that many smokers are successfully using e-cigarettes to quit.”
“However, the substantial difference between the proportion of smokers who have tried e-cigarettes and who are currently using them suggests that more information and advice is needed to support smokers who try to quit smoking with e-cigarettes,” added Edwards.
Read Further: Medical Press
