The Rest of the Story: Tobacco and Alcohol News Analysis and Commentary: Canadian Survey Suggests that Electronic Cigarettes are a Useful Smoking Cessation Tool

A national public opinion survey of 2,154 adult Canadians taken by the Forum Poll found that among smokers who used electronic cigarettes primarily as a smoking cessation tool, 24% had quit smoking.

The study concluded that: "many vapers are trying to quit smoking tobacco, and between a quarter and a third are successful at this. So, it appears e-cigarettes don't represent the trojan horse they are painted as, and may be a very useful smoking cessation aid."

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It seems fortunate that a large number of smokers in Canada have ignored Health Canada's advice not to use electronic cigarettes. The health agency had advised smokers "not to purchase or use electronic smoking products, as these products may pose health risks and have not been fully evaluated for safety, quality and efficacy by Health Canada." Had all smokers taken Health Canada's advice, it appears that as many as one quarter of them who otherwise would have quit would instead still be smoking. It is ironic and unfortunate that a national health agency put out advice which runs contrary to the best interests of the public's health.

Due to differences in the legal status of e-cigarettes in the U.S. and Canada, these results cannot be extrapolated to the U.S. In Canada, the sale of nicotine-containing e-liquids was banned, although use by individuals is still legal. Therefore, it is possible that smokers in Canada who use electronic cigarettes are particularly motivated to quit smoking. This could, in part, explain the high observed smoking cessation rate in the survey.

I doubt that anti-smoking advocates and groups who oppose e-cigarettes will pay any heed to the results of this survey, as they appear not to be concerned with the actual scientific evidence, but instead, appear to have already drawn their conclusions. Nevertheless, if enough evidence accumulates to show that e-cigarettes are helping many smokers to quit, eventually it will be impossible for public policy makers to deny that e-cigarettes are a bona fide smoking cessation tool, despite the propaganda being disseminated by the anti-smoking groups.

Of note, the survey found that among those who are unsuccessful in quitting using e-cigarettes, about half have reduced the amount that they smoke. Thus, e-cigarettes may be benefiting those who fail to quit by reducing the damage done to the lungs and by decreasing the level of their addiction to smoking.

Also of note, 70% of smokers surveyed who had used e-cigarettes to try to quit reported that these products were somewhat or very effective in helping them quit. Despite the pre-determined conclusions of many anti-smoking groups, consumers seem to be indicating that these products can work.

Although penetration of e-cigarettes is not that high now, those using them are the young, and this behaviour is bound to become more popular. It appears, contrary to authorities' fears, that vaping is not a gateway to tobacco smoking, and many people who never smoked enjoy e-cigs for the flavours, not the nicotine. On the other hand, many vapers are trying to quit smoking tobacco, and between a quarter and a third are successful at this. So, it appears e-cigarettes don't represent the trojan horse they are painted as, and may be a very useful smoking cessation aid

Read more at: http://poll.forumresearch.com/post/197/two-thirds-using-e-cigs-to-quit-one-quarter-to-one-third-are-successful/
Copyright ©Forum Research Inc.

The Rest of the Story: Tobacco and Alcohol News Analysis and Commentary

Monday, December 22, 2014

Canadian Survey Suggests that Electronic Cigarettes are a Useful Smoking Cessation Tool

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