Survey: More U.S. Adults Think Vaping Is More Harmful Than Smoking

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open indicates that between 2017 and 2018, the number of U.S. adults who believe e-cigarettes are as harmful or more harmful than regular cigarettes has increased.<\/p>

Conducted by tobacco researchers at Georgia State University’s School of Public Health, the study shows that, as earlier research found, the perception of harm from e-cigarettes relative to cigarettes has increased from 2012 to 2017, and the proportion of adults with this perception continues to rise.<\/p>

More specifically, the survey results indicate that the percentage of adults who believe e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes decreased from 29% in 2017 to 26% in 2018, while the proportion of adults who believe e-cigarettes are equally harmful or more harmful than cigarettes increased during this period.<\/p>

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Amy L. Nyman, a research associate at the School of Public Health, stated: “Smokers who perceive too much risk from smoking may decide not to use them to quit and may continue their combustible smoking habits.” “The increased perception of harm from e-cigarettes may reflect growing concerns about youth using e-cigarettes and the accompanying media coverage regarding the youth vaping epidemic.”<\/p>

Increased Perceived Risks Associated with the EVALI Outbreak<\/strong><\/p>

Nyman added that since the EVALI outbreak in the U.S., perceptions of harm from these products may have further increased. The CDC announced last month that the notorious EVALI outbreak was linked to the consumption of illegal THC products and not to the use of legal nicotine. Public health expert Dr. Michael Siegel pointed out that policymakers must now take proactive steps to eliminate all harm caused by associating lung diseases with vaping.<\/p>

“At this point, it is time for national policymakers and politicians to immediately stop conflating this outbreak with the issue of youth vaping. It is time for all decision-makers, health agencies, and health professionals to stop stating or implying that legal nicotine e-liquids are related to the outbreak.” Unfortunately, this is not the case.<\/p>