Most E-Cigarette Users Plan to Quit

The majority of e-cigarette users reported that they want to quit, according to a recent study.

Although previous studies on e-cigarettes have focused on harm reduction potential, use as a smoking cessation aid, toxicology profile, and their use among youth, little information on the effects of long-term e-cigarette use is currently available.

“Although e-cigarettes may be associated with reduced harm as compared to combustible cigarettes, measurable toxic substances and addiction potential remain, and assisting long-term e-cigarettes users in quit attempts may soon be a priority,” the researchers wrote. “To date, there is limited attention to e-cigarette users’ intention to, interest in, or attempts to stop or reduce e-cigarette use.

The researchers evaluated data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. Specifically, data from the PATH Public Use Adult Files at Wave 3 (2015-2016) were examined. This included only current, established users of e-cigarettes (n = 1771). Of these, 54.97% were also users of combustible cigarettes.

Overall, 62.38% of e-cigarette users reported plans to quit e-cigarette use, 7.98% of whom reported plans to quit within the next 7 days, 7.74% reporting plans to quit in the next month, and 12.95% planning to quit in the next 6 months, with the remaining participants planning to quit within the next year. 

Over 25% of e-cigarette users reported at least 1 attempt to quit in the past year. Of these, 10.89% reported seeking counseling or self-help materials to aid in cessation. Forty-two patients reported the use of nicotine replacement therapy and 28 reported use of an FDA-approved cessation medication.

“This study highlights that not only do most e-cigarette users want to quit using e-cigarettes (more than 60% plan to quit someday and almost 16% plan on quitting in the next month), but also that more than a quarter of e-cigarette users have already made attempts to quit,” the authors concluded.

“As e-cigarette use continues to increase, and as more e-cigarette users want to quit, it will be important for the field to be ready to help e-cigarette users who may have difficulty stopping on their own.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Rosen RL, Steinberg ML. Interest in Quitting E-cigarettes Among Adults in the United States [published online April 23, 2019]. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntz062.