Summary
Introduction:
This text is a research letter summarizing a study on the emerging patterns of e-cigarette use in the general population in Canada. The study uses data from the 2017 Canadian Tobacco, alcohol and Drugs Survey (CTaDS) and the 2019 Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS) to examine the prevalence and patterns of e-cigarette use. The study also explores the reasons for e-cigarette use and the implications of these findings for population health.
Key Points:
* The study found that e-cigarette use has increased from 2.9% in 2017 to 4.7% in 2019.
* E-cigarette users were more likely to be male, younger, and report binge drinking, cannabis use, and use of other drugs.
* a significant proportion of e-cigarette users were current or former smokers, consistent with harm-reduction or smoking cessation goals.
* however, the study also found that the proportion of e-cigarette users who had never smoked had more than doubled from 15.5% in 2017 to 36.7% in 2019.
* The most common reason for e-cigarette use was curiosity, followed by a belief that e-cigarettes were less harmful than conventional cigarettes.
* The harms associated with e-cigarette use are not fully understood, and the implications of these findings for population health are uncertain.
* Further research is required to determine the prevalence of e-cigarette-associated substance use disorders and the effectiveness of conventional treatments for smoking cessation and cannabis use disorders in this population.
Main Message:
The main message of this study is that e-cigarette use is emerging as a new pattern of substance use, with a significant proportion of users reporting no history of smoking. The study highlights the need for further research to understand the harms associated with e-cigarette use and the implications of these findings for population health. It also emphasizes the importance of monitoring the prevalence of e-cigarette-associated substance use disorders and the effectiveness of conventional treatments for smoking cessation and cannabis use disorders in this population. Overall, the study underscores the need for regulatory measures to prevent the uptake of e-cigarette use, particularly among young people, and to ensure that e-cigarettes are marketed as a harm-reduction tool for smokers rather than a recreational product for non-smokers.
Citation
Patten SB, Williams JVa, Wiens K, et al. Emerging Patterns of E-Cigarette Use in the General Population. Canadian journal of psychiatry Revue canadienne de psychiatrie. 2021;66(5):503-505. doi:10.1177/0706743720975591
