A new study conducted by the University of California in San Diego has found that teenagers who use e-cigarettes are three times more likely to become habitual smokers than adults. The study, which was published in the journal Pediatrics, surveyed 15,826 teenagers and young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 about their smoking habits at the beginning of the study and again four years later. The results showed that e-cigarettes are seen as a gateway drug for teenagers in the US, with those who use them having a 10% chance of becoming habitual smokers, compared to just 3% for those who have never tried e-cigarettes.
The study also found that teenagers who have tried more than five tobacco products have a 15% chance of becoming habitual smokers, which is even higher than the risk for adults. The authors of the study, known as the PATH Study, predict that the widespread use of e-cigarettes among teenagers will lead to a significant increase in the number of habitual smokers among young adults in the coming years. Reiner Hanewinkel, from the Institute for Therapy and Health Research in Kiel, Germany, agrees with this prediction, stating that e-cigarettes contain nicotine and can quickly lead to addiction, just like traditional cigarettes.
Hanewinkel also called for a ban on all e-cigarette advertising to protect children and teenagers from the harmful effects of smoking. The study’s findings are particularly concerning given the popularity of e-cigarettes among teenagers in the US and other countries. With e-cigarettes being marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, it is important for parents, educators, and policymakers to be aware of the risks associated with their use and take steps to prevent teenagers from becoming habitual smokers.
