E-Cigarettes May Encourage Use of Conventional Cigarettes Among Teens

By Amy Orciari Herman

Adolescents who use electronic cigarettes are more likely than nonusers to smoke conventional cigarettes, according to a cross-sectional study in JAMA Pediatrics.

Researchers examined National Youth Tobacco Survey data on some 40,000 middle and high school students from 2011 and 2012. Rates of current e-cigarette use doubled during that time period (from 1% to 2%).

Among students who had ever tried conventional cigarettes, current e-cigarette use correlated positively with ever having smoked 100 or more conventional cigarettes (odds ratio, 7.4) and with current smoking (OR, 7.9). In addition, among current conventional smokers, concurrent e-cigarette use was associated with heavier smoking.

The researchers conclude: "These results suggest that e-cigarette use is aggravating rather than ameliorating the tobacco epidemic among youths." A researcher from the American Cancer Society, however, is skeptical: "The data in this study do not allow many of the broad conclusions that it draws," he told the New York Times. For example, it's possible that adolescents who use e-cigarettes are heavier smokers to begin with.