Time goes by but nothing changes in the United States. Worse yet, the anti-vaping discourse could suggest that we have to fight an epidemic as if we were facing an uncontrollable virus. According to an American study, we must cultivate hope in the future in order to fight against the use of vaping among young people which would reach "epidemic proportions".
A PROBLEMATIC MARKETING THAT PRESENTS VAPE AS A WITHDRAWAL TOOL
But when will the American madness end in its fight against vaping, the only real alternative in the fight against smoking? According to a recent American study, cultivating hope for the future and good communication with parents could protect against vaping from the “scourge”.
« E-cigarette use among young people is reaching epidemic proportions », Worries Nicholas szoko du UPMC Children's.
In total, " 27% of the young people we interviewed in our study say they have vaped in the last 30 days », He specifies. It is to try to identify the protective factors facing this new scourge among adolescents that the researcher conducted a survey of 2 high school students in Pittsburgh schools.
»Electronic cigarettes have been marketed as smoking cessation tools «
In particular, adolescents were asked whether they smoked traditional tobacco products, whether they used e-cigarettes and how often. The questions were also designed to determine whether factors considered to be “protective” against traditional smoking also protected against vaping.
The four factors identified by the researchers were as follows :
- the individual's ability to believe in his future;
- parental interaction and support;
- friendly and peer support;
- the feeling of inclusion at school.
The result shows that unlike traditional tobacco consumption, vaping is not influenced by social and friendly ties or by the feeling of inclusion in school.
On the other hand, the fact of projecting oneself in his future and the bond with his parents protect young people from vaping. Thus, these two elements reduce the prevalence of e-
cigarettes among the high school students questioned. And this compared to their peers reporting lower scores in these personal factors.
These data make it possible to better understand what protects young people and therefore to develop adapted prevention methods.
Unlike other tobacco products, “ electronic cigarettes have been marketed as smoking cessation tools, which gives them a positive image among young people, ”note the authors. Not to mention that “the associated fragrances and mobile applications make them very attractive products for young people. »
Which probably explains why the methods used in smoking prevention do not necessarily work against vaping. " Parents and practitioners therefore need better knowledge about these uses to deter young people more effectively. ", Conclude the authors.
