Smoking and e-cigarette use often go hand in hand, studies find

A pair of recently published studies uncover associations between e-cigarette users and cigarette smoking. In one study, researchers looked at data from more than 19,000 former smokers in England, and found that among those who had quit smoking for at least a year, the percentage of those who used e-cigarettes nearly tripled between 2014-2019. Those who were in lower socioeconomic groups were more likely to use e-cigarettes.

In a separate study, scientists examined data from nearly 18,000 youths and adults who had participated in a U.S. survey on tobacco use. Young adults (18-24) and youth (12-17) were more likely to take up smoking if they also vaped, but older adults who smoked and then used e-cigarettes were more likely to quit smoking tobacco. The use of flavored vapes encouraged smoking cessation in older adults and was associated with youth not taking up smoking.