Prevalence and characteristics of ever regular use of non-combustible nicotine for 1 year or more: a population survey in England.

Introduction:
This summary will provide an overview of a research study on the prevalence and characteristics of ever regular use of non-combustible nicotine products (NNP) in England in 2020. The study aims to examine the sociodemographic and smoking-related characteristics associated with ever regular use of NNP in England.

Key Points:

* The study used monthly cross-sectional data from the Smoking Toolkit Study (STS) collected between February 2020 and June 2020.
* The study found that ever regular use of NNP was highest for current smokers, followed by ex-smokers, with negligible use by never-smokers.
* Ever regular use of NRT or e-cigarettes was each more prevalent in current smokers, followed by ex-smokers, with very low use in never-smokers.
* The study found that being a current or ex-smoker, being of social grade ABC1 compared with C2DE, and at least hazardous alcohol use were significantly associated with greater prevalence of ever regular NNP use.
* The association with social grade was only observed with ever regular e-cigarette but not NRT use, whereas the opposite was true for the association with at least hazardous alcohol use.
* Ever regular use of heated tobacco products was low, and nobody in this survey reported ever regular use of the e-cigarette JUUL.
* Use of multiple NNP was lower than single use, and use of two nicotine replacement products results in higher quit rates than single use.

Main Message:
This study highlights the importance of monitoring the use of non-combustible nicotine products, particularly among current and ex-smokers, as their use is almost entirely reported by these groups. The study also emphasizes the need to establish which combination of products and how they are used may be most effective compared to single use is an important focus for future trials. Additionally, the study indicates that more consideration is needed to encourage and support those people smoking from groups with a high smoking prevalence to both initiate e-cigarette use and to use their devices more regularly to prevent relapse to smoking and reduce concurrent tobacco use.

Cox S, Brown J, Kock L, Shahab L. Prevalence and characteristics of ever regular use of non-combustible nicotine for 1 year or more: a population survey in England. Harm reduction journal. 2021;18(1):114. doi:10.1186/s12954-021-00562-9