Smoking rates in the United States have declined significantly over the past few years, but e-cigarette use has shown an upward trend, especially among teens and young adults. This phenomenon has attracted the attention of public health experts, who believe that electronic cigarettes are not only harmful to health, but may also become an “entry product” of traditional cigarettes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking rates in the United States dropped to their lowest levels in more than half a century in 2020. 12.5% of the adult population (still well over 30 million people) are current smokers. The specific prevalence of cigarettes decreased from 14% (34.1 million people) to 12.5% (30.8 million people) in 2019, from 42% in 1965.
However, at the same time, the adult e-cigarette prevalence rate dropped from 4.5% (10.9 million people) in 2019 to 3.7% (9.1 million people), while the youth e-cigarette use rate has been rising since 2011. The Department of Public Health Service has declared it an “epidemic” and called for action to address the deteriorating situation. Currently, 3.6 million young Americans still use e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes first entered the public eye with the image of helping to quit smoking. The business concept behind the product is astute: Manufacturers claim that e-cigarettes offer all the pleasures of traditional cigarettes without the harm and can also aid in smoking cessation. However, multiple international cohort studies have consistently demonstrated a strong correlation between e-cigarette use and subsequent initiation of cigarette use among adolescents and young adults, with e-cigarette users switching to traditional cigarette smoking at a rate more often than never smokers several times.
In addition, the World Health Organization also clearly pointed out in the “Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic in 2019” that there is not enough evidence to show that e-cigarettes help quit smoking, and e-cigarettes are not recommended as a smoking cessation aid. So far, neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor China’s State Drug Administration has approved any e-cigarette product as a smoking cessation aid.
E-cigarette is an electronic product that turns nicotine-containing e-liquid into vapor by means of atomization and other means. E-cigarettes have several possible benefits:
- Electronic cigarettes do not contain tar, carbon monoxide and other harmful substances in cigarettes, and are less harmful to the human body.
- cigarettes can help smokers gradually reduce their nicotine intake, thereby achieving their goal of quitting smoking.
- Electronic cigarettes do not produce second-hand and third-hand smoke, and have less impact on the surrounding people and the environment.
- E-cigarettes are cheaper than traditional cigarettes and can save money.
Of course, e-cigarettes are not completely harmless, and they still contain nicotine, an addictive substance that may have adverse effects on the heart and blood pressure. Moreover, the long-term safety of e-cigarettes is not supported by sufficient scientific evidence. Therefore, when using electronic cigarettes, we still need to pay attention to controlling the dosage and choosing compliant products. In addition, when using electronic cigarettes, some behavioral etiquette should also be observed, and respect for public morality and others.
Therefore, experts call on the government and society to take more measures to prevent and reduce the use of e-cigarettes, especially among teenagers and young adults. Some countries and regions have introduced relevant regulations to restrict or prohibit the production, sale and use of e-cigarettes. For example, the United States has banned the sale of all flavored vaping products except the traditional vanilla and mint flavors. China also released the “E-cigarette Management Measures” in 2020, which clearly stipulates that the production, sale and use of e-cigarette products that are provided to minors or targeted at minors will be prohibited, and supervision of e-cigarette products will be strengthened manage.
Experts believe that these measures can help protect public health, prevent youth exposure to e-cigarettes, and reduce the interference of e-cigarettes with the withdrawal effects of traditional cigarettes. They also recommend that smokers seek more effective and safe methods of quitting smoking, such as behavioral therapy and smoking cessation drugs.
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