Is the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation associated with alcohol consumption?

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a study examining the association between the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation and alcohol consumption. The study aims to determine if there is a difference in alcohol consumption, high-risk drinking, and attempts to cut down alcohol consumption between smokers who quit smoking with e-cigarettes, NRT, or no aid. The study used data from the Smoking and alcohol Toolkit Studies, a monthly cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of adults in England.

Key Points:

* The study included 961 successful quitters who had used e-cigarettes, NRT, or no aid during their most recent quit attempt.
* after adjusting for covariates, those who quit smoking with e-cigarettes consumed approximately 1.69 more units of alcohol each week than those who quit unaided.
* There was no significant difference in alcohol consumption between those who quit smoking with e-cigarettes and those who quit with NRT.
* The prevalence of high-risk drinking was 43.3% among those who quit smoking with e-cigarettes, 32.2% among those who quit with NRT, and 36.8% among those who quit with no aid.
* among high-risk drinkers, the prevalence of attempts to cut down alcohol consumption was 22.3% among those who quit smoking with e-cigarettes, 18.9% among those who quit with NRT, and 27.7% among those who quit with no aid.
* Bayes factors indicated moderate evidence of higher alcohol consumption among those who quit smoking with e-cigarettes than those who quit with no aid, but not compared to those who quit with NRT.
* Sensitivity analyses excluding non-drinkers and those who used behavioral support in addition to e-cigarettes or NRT produced similar results.
* There was no significant interaction between type of cessation aid used and sex for any outcome.

Main Message:
The study found that smokers who quit with e-cigarettes reported higher alcohol consumption than those who quit unaided, but not compared to those who quit with NRT. The prevalence of high-risk drinking was similar between those who quit smoking with e-cigarettes and those who quit with NRT or no aid. among high-risk drinkers, there was no significant difference in attempts to cut down alcohol consumption. The study suggests that including advice to reduce alcohol consumption within behavioral support might be useful for smokers who quit using alternative nicotine. however, the modest size of the association between e-cigarette use and alcohol consumption should not discourage health professionals from recommending e-cigarettes to smokers as a cessation aid.

Jackson SE, Beard E, Michie S, West R, Brown J. Is the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation associated with alcohol consumption? a population-level survey of successful quitters in England. addictive behaviors. 2020;101:106138. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106138