There’s a link between e-cigarettes to combustible ones when it comes to teenage smoking habits, a new study found. Researchers assessed smoking habits of a group of teenagers over six months. They found that teenagers who vaped or used e-cigarettes were smoking more frequently and often switched to traditional tobacco products. This association was particularly strong in those teens who started out only vaping, and then transitioned to regular cigarettes. While it’s possible that teens who both vaped and smoked regular cigarettes could be using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid, this link can be useful for informing policy regarding tobacco sales to teenagers.
Authors:
Adam M. Leventhal, Matthew D. Stone, Nafeesa Andrabi, Jessica Barrington-Trimis, David R. Strong, Steve Sussman, Janet Audrain-McGovern
Original paper published in JAMA on November 8, 2016.
