Most importantly, among those who had ever tried an e-cigarette, over half (54.6%) reported the reason was to quit smoking, while 13.9% reported that the reason was to reduce smoking. Interestingly but not surprisingly, having an educational qualification of GCSE or higher, ie. being in a higher possession of education (odds ratio 2.17, 95% CI 1.22 to 3.86, p = 0.008) and having made a quit attempt in the past six months (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.63, p = 0.032) were associated with ever having tried vaping.
More research looking into helping mental illness patients quit smoking via e-cigs, required
To this effect concluded the researchers, the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as cessation aids amongst sufferers of mental illness need to be studied further. In fact, prior studies have indicated similar links and psychiatrists in Australia, where nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are banned, have long argued that lifting this ban could improve their patients’ quality of life.
In 2017, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), had also pointed out that mentally ill individuals have a higher tendency to smoke than healthier members of the public. Hence, they explained, this group would benefit greatly from having access to the safer alternatives, which at least would decrease the likelihood of them experiencing the preventable ailments associated with smoking.
“E-cigarettes … provide a safer way to deliver nicotine to those who are unable to stop smoking, thereby minimising the harms associated with smoking tobacco and reducing some of the health disparities,” said the organization. “The RANZCP therefore supports a cautious approach that takes into account …the significant health benefits which these products present.”
Australia’s current nicotine ban is a stumbling block
RANZCP board member, Professor David Castle, had pointed out that the current regulations are working against people with mental problems. Talking figures, 70% of schizophrenia sufferers and 61% of people with bipolar disorder are smokers, in comparison to the 16% of mentally healthy individuals.
“It’s not like we’ve banned cigarettes, they’re available and legal, but there are restrictions, and we would go with similar restrictions for e-cigarettes,” he said. “The literature shows the risk of cancer is much reduced with e-cigarettes because what actually raises that risk are the aromatic hydrocarbons and other things within the paper and the tobacco. We’re talking about nicotine as a chemical substance released in a vapour form, so it’s a very different scenario.”
Regular vapers have the highest smoking cessation success rates
