Cancer Research UK study shows most young vapers don’t become regular users


Cancer Research UK study shows most young vapers don’t become regular users Oliver Norman

Cancer Research UK study shows most young vapers don’t become regular users

A recent study part-funded by Cancer Research UK shows that the majority of e-cigarette experimentation among young people does not lead to regular use.

Cancer Research UK created 5 surveys that questioned more than 60,000 young people aged 11-16. The study is a collaboration between Cancer Research UK, the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies, Public Health England, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), and the DECIPHer Centre at the University of Cardiff.

Lead Author of the study, Professor Linda Bauld, from the University of Stirling stated: “Our study also shows that smoking rates in young people are continuing to decline.” The results of the study are in stark contrast to recent headlines that suggest that e-cigarette experimentation in young people leads to regular use. Professor Bauld added that future studies are needed to continue to monitor the correlation between experimentation and regular use, taking current smoking trends into account to provide the public with the best information.

The results showed that the highest rate of regular use of e-cigarettes in young people who had never smoked was 0.5%, for regular smokers this ranged from 7-38%. Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK’s director of prevention, said: “Smoking continues to be the biggest preventable cause of cancer, so it’s vital we continue to investigate ways to reduce the number of people addicted to tobacco. E-cigarettes have the potential to help achieve this.”

The study aims to reassure people that although e-cigarette usage in the UK is rising, the smoking rates for young people in the UK is not.

For more information about the Young People’s Use of E-Cigarettes study - https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/9/973

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