Effects of vaping on uptake and cessation of smoking: Longitudinal analysis in Aotearoa New Zealand adults

Abstract

IntroductionGlobally, the use of vapes, or e‐cigarettes, is increasing. While vaping is less harmful than smoking and may help smokers to quit, there is also the possibility that vaping may lead to smoking. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of vaping and smoking in Aotearoa New Zealand and explore longitudinal pathways between smoking status and vape use.MethodData related to smoking and vaping status was analysed from Times 10, 11 and 12 across 2018–2020 of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values study, a large, representative, multi‐wave study of adults living in New Zealand. Weighted descriptive analyses were used to determine prevalence rates of vaping and smoking and a generalised linear modelling approach was used to examine the likelihood of changing to, or taking up, the other behaviour in the transition between time points.ResultsBroadly, the prevalence of smoking was found to be decreasing over time while the prevalence of vaping was increasing. Despite these general trends, no differences were observed in the likelihood of transitioning from smoking to vaping or from vaping to smoking, indicating that either pathway was equally as likely.Discussion and ConclusionsThe current findings demonstrate that vaping appeared to be just as likely to have a gateway effect to smoking as it was to have a cessation effect. This highlights the need for greater consideration regarding vaping‐related policies and restrictions.

Psychological predictors of vaping uptake among non‐smokers: A longitudinal investigation of New Zealand adults

“…For example, it would be useful to explore the different aspects of sensation seeking including disinhibition, boredom susceptibility, thrill and adventure seeking, and experience seeking using the Sensation Seeking Scale [54, 55], as well as multiple dimensions of impulsivity including negative urgency, premeditation, perseverance, sensation seeking, and positive urgency using the UPPS‐P scale [56, 57] as prior research found that lack of premeditation and greater sensation seeking predicted more e‐cigarette use among e‐cigarette‐using young adults [37]. Finally, more attention needs to be paid to the complex temporal pathways between vaping and smoking over time, including potential gateway effects of vaping on smoking [58] and on alcohol use [59], in addition to common liabilities that may underlie these behaviours [49].…”

Electronic Cigarette Harms: Aggregate Evidence Shows Damage to Biological Systems

“…Studies by Dai and Blagev show that longitudinal nicotine exposure with or without advanced disease consequences has adverse neurocognitive consequences [65,66]. Many studies have confirmed a "gateway effect" from early nicotine use, and many pod-based nicotine products, like Juul and disposable e-cigarettes, have high levels of nicotine that result in rapid addiction by users [67][68][69]. E-cigarette use not only results in the dual use of nicotine products but also leads to nicotine and cannabis product use, a practice of growing concern to researchers as cannabis becomes legal in more countries [70,71].…”