Study Finds Nearly Two-Thirds of Vaping Users Consider Quitting or Cutting Back During the Pandemic

On December 6, news reported that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers and young adults has sharply declined. A new study shows that nearly two-thirds of e-cigarette users reported that they have reduced or quit smoking.
 
According to a survey published on December 3 in JAMA Network Online, about 32% of e-cigarette users stated that they chose to quit smoking this year, while another 35% reported reducing their smoking.

The results indicate that concerns about lung health are the main factors behind their decisions. A quarter of those who reduced or quit smoking reported that they were motivated by worries that smoking would harm their lungs.

Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, a developmental psychologist and pediatrics professor at Stanford University in California, pointed out that research shows that smokers are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 infections.

She added that e-cigarette users' concerns may also stem from the nationwide EVALI outbreak in 2019, which involved thousands of cases of lung injuries associated with e-cigarette use.

Halpern-Felsher stated: "One of the main reasons they are quitting is their concern for lung health, which we think is important because they believe they are harming their lungs. This indeed provides an opportunity for discussion and education about lung health."