Paradigm Shift Needed In Pan America’s Approach to End Smoking
World No Tobacco Day serves as an important reminder of the harmful effects of cigarette smoking and the need for…
Warner KE, Mendez D., ‘E-cigarettes: Comparing the Possible Risks of Increasing Smoking Initiation with the Potential Benefits of Increasing Smoking Cessation,’ Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2019 Jan 1;21(1):41-47.
Key Points:
- The research simulated the impacts of vaping on smoking cessation to the year 2070, using a model that tracks the US adult population’s smoking status and smoking-related deaths over time.
- Key findings:
- The US is predicted to gain almost 3.3 million life-years by 2070.
- Even if smokers lose 10% of the benefit of quitting smoking, the net life-year gain falls to 2.4 million.
- The study tested the model under a wide range of parameters and continually found that vaping had a net positive impact on life-years saved.
- The upside health benefits of vaping exceed the risk that they will potentially increase the number of young smokers.
- Policies to prevent youth uptake should not limit vaping’s potential to help adult smokers to quit.
