Association of the US Outbreak of Vaping-Associated Lung Injury With Perceived Harm of e-Cigarettes Compared With Cigarettes | Lifestyle Behaviors | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network

Association of the US Outbreak of Vaping-Associated Lung Injury With Perceived Harm of e-Cigarettes Compared With Cigarettes | Lifestyle Behaviors | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network

EVALI outbreak may have led to perception that e-cigarettes are as harmful as other cigarettes

The spate of vaping-related lung injuries — known as EVALI — that cropped up last year may have changed how people view vaping. A new survey of more than 3,200 current smokers in England found that while 37% viewed e-cigarettes as less harmful before the outbreak, only 30% said the same after the outbreak. More people also thought that vaping was equally or more harmful than traditional cigarettes after the outbreak. The authors say the findings highlight the importance of distinguishing the relative harm of different nicotine-based products.