Summary
Introduction:
This text discusses a study examining the effects of adding vaping restrictions to smoke-free air laws on smoking, vaping, and smoking cessation behaviors. The study uses data from the National Health Interview Survey from 2014-2018 and policy data from the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation US Tobacco Control Laws Database. The study estimates changes in current smoking, past-year smoking cessation, and recent vaping following the introduction of smoke- and vape-free air laws.
Key Points:
* Smoke-free worksite laws were associated with significant reductions in current smoking, recent vaping, and increases in smoking cessation.
* Adding vaping restrictions to smoke-free worksite laws, however, was not associated with a reduction in recent vaping among emerging adults and may have attenuated the smoke-free policy's impact on current smoking in this age group.
* The study controlled for other tobacco control policies, conventional cigarette taxes, median household income, and county urbanicity.
* The sample was restricted to adults under age 55, and the analysis focused on 18-25-year-olds for current smoking and recent vaping outcomes and 26-54-year-olds for smoking cessation outcomes.
* The study used sample-weighted linear probability models with state-level clustered standard errors to estimate the policy effects.
* The study did not consider qualified smoke-free air laws or e-cigarette taxes in the analysis.
* The study did not assess past-year vaping cessation due to data limitations.
Main Message:
The main message of the study is that adding vaping restrictions to smoke-free worksite laws may not have the intended effect of reducing vaping and may even attenuate the impact of smoke-free policies on current smoking among emerging adults. The study suggests that policymakers should carefully consider the potential effects of such amendments on both smoking and vaping behaviors. Overall, the study highlights the need for further research on the interrelated demand for conventional and electronic cigarettes and the impact of policies targeting one of these products on use of the other.
Citation
Friedman AS, Oliver JF, Busch SH. Adding vaping restrictions to smoke-free air laws: associations with conventional and electronic cigarette use. Addiction (Abingdon, England). 2021;116(8):2198-2206. doi:10.1111/add.15434
