One in Seven Dual Users Continue Using Both Tobacco Products

MONDAY, Dec. 19, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- One in seven dual users of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and cigarettes continues using both products during six years of follow-up, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in Tobacco Control.

Nandita Krishnan, from the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health in Washington, D.C., and colleagues assessed the longitudinal trajectories of ENDS and cigarette use among dual users. The analysis included data from 545 adult dual users across waves 1 to 5 (2013 to 2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study.

The researchers report that in wave 1, two ENDS trajectories (early quitters, 66.0 percent; stable users, 34.0 percent) and three cigarette trajectories (stable users, 55.2 percent; gradual quitters, 27.3 percent; early quitters, 17.5 percent) were identified. When analyzing joint trajectories, the researchers found 41.6 percent of participants were early ENDS quitters and stable cigarette users, 14.8 percent early ENDS quitters and gradual cigarette quitters, 14.6 percent stable ENDS users and stable cigarette users, 11.2 percent stable ENDS users and gradual cigarette quitters, 10.3 percent early ENDS quitters and early cigarette quitters, and 7.4 percent stable ENDS users and early cigarette quitters. Trajectory group membership was predicted by cigarette and ENDS use frequency, nicotine dependence, cannabis use, and other noncombusted tobacco product use.

"Before 2019, ENDS use did not contribute to substantial smoking cessation at the population level," the authors write.

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