A true pioneer in this area, the United Kingdom is offering more and more work on vaping. Moreover, the PHE (Public Health England) is no stranger to this fact and today offers a new report on e-cigarette use which is the first in a new series which will feature three. This first document reveals that the regular use of e-cigarettes among young people remains low and that its use among adults is stabilizing.
1,7% OF UNDER 18 ARE REGULAR USERS OF E-CIGARETTES AND SMOKERS!
According to an independent report conducted by researchers from King's College London and ordered by the Public Health England (PHE), regular e-cigarette use remains low among young people and stabilizes among adults. This report is the first in a series of three commissioned by the PHE as part of the government's tobacco control plan. It specifically examines the use of e-cigarettes and not the health effects which will be the subject of a future report.
Although e-cigarette experimentation among young people has increased in recent years, the results of this report show that regular use remains low. Only 1,7% less than 18 years vape weekly, and the vast majority of them smoke as well. Among the young people who have never smoked, only 0,2% regularly use e-cigarettes.
Regular e-cigarette use among adults has reached a ceiling in recent years and remains largely reserved for smokers and ex-smokers, with stopping smoking being the main motivation for adult vapers.
Professor John Newton, Director of Health Improvement at Public Health England, said: " Contrary to recent reports in the American media, we do not observe an increase in the use of e-cigarettes among young Britons. As more and more young people experience the vape, the crucial point remains that regular use is low or even very low among those who have never smoked. We will closely monitor smoking habits to ensure we stay on track to achieve our ambition of a smoke-free generation. »
Although e-cigarettes are now considered the most popular smoking cessation aid, just over a third of smokers have never tried it. In England, only 4% of stop attempts by the “Stop Smoking Services” are made with electronic cigarettes, although this approach is effective. In this sense, the report recommends that tobacco control services do more to encourage smokers to quit with the help of e-cigarettes..
A RATE OF SMOKING THAT FALLS UNDER 15%
Regarding smoking rates among young people, they have capped in recent years. In addition to this, adult smoking rates continue to decline, with just under 15% of smokers in England.
A recently published major clinical trial, not included in the Public Health England report, has shown that e-cigarettes can be up to twice as effective at quitting smoking than other nicotine replacement products, such as patches or gums.
» We could accelerate the decline in smoking if more smokers switch to vaping altogether. Recent new evidence clearly shows that using an e-cigarette with the support of the Stop Smoking service can double the chances of quitting smoking. Every smoking cessation service needs to get involved in talking about the potential of e-cigarettes. If you smoke, switching to vaping could save you unhealthy years and could even save your life. ". declared Professor Newton.
The teacher Ann McNeill, professor of tobacco addiction at King's College London and lead author of the report said:
« We are encouraged that regular vaping among young British people who have never smoked remains low. However, we must remain vigilant and especially monitor smoking among young people. With just over a third of adult smokers never having tried e-cigarettes, there is a clear opportunity for many people to try a method that has been proven to work. »
Source : Gov.uk/
