Two-thirds of vapers are also smokers

A woman pulling an electronic cigarette.

(illustration) -

Nearly two-thirds of electronic cigarette users still smoke in parallel, a survey conducted by the BVA polling institute, at the request of ANSES, shows Wednesday.

63% of vapers and vapers are thus "smoking vapers", of which 43% are daily smokers (at least one cigarette per day), indicates this survey, published in parallel with an unprecedented overview of the substances contained in the products of the tobacco and vaping.

Among the 37% of “exclusive vapers”, 34% are former smokers, while 3% say they have never smoked or only once “to try”.

This survey is intended to give the health agency "precise information on consumption habits" and on the products and devices used by vapers and vapers, "in order to better assess the risks associated with the substances they can use. », Specified ANSES.

"The central questions on the toxicity of products, their long-term effects, the effectiveness as a method of smoking cessation or even the gateway effect of vaping to tobacco" have made little progress in recent years, she emphasizes. .

Three-quarters of respondents vape every day

The survey shows in particular that three quarters of vapers and vapers use their electronic cigarette every day and that a majority of them (58%) have been vaping for “at least two years”.

And only a third (36%) intend to vape less or stop vaping in the next 12 months.

Among the main reasons given for using electronic cigarettes, 68% say they use it to quit smoking, 36% because “it is cheaper” than cigarettes and 30% because they believe that electronic cigarettes is "better for your health" than tobacco.

Overall, 70% of vapers believe that electronic cigarettes are “less harmful” than tobacco, 23% “as harmful” and 7% “more harmful”.

Three quarters believe that vaping is "the most effective way to stop smoking", but 84% believe that "you can become addicted to electronic cigarettes".

The survey also highlights that more than a third of vapers and vapers use nicotine-free products, including 21% exclusively, and that a third declare that they manufacture exclusively or often their “e-liquid”, of which more than 60% for reasons economic.

According to data from the 2018 France Public Health Barometer, 34.7% of 18-75 year olds had already tried e-cigarettes and 5.3% used them during the survey, 3.8% of which were daily.

Miscellaneous

Two children burned, an electronic cigarette is said to have caught fire

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Electronic cigarette: A new type of lung injury observed in a Canadian vaper

BVA survey carried out online from February 6 to 18, 2020 with a representative sample of 1,000 vapers, daily or occasional, aged 18 to 75.

• study

• Cigarette

• Vaping

• Electronic cigarette

• Health

• Tobacco