Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are becoming increasingly popular, but little is known about their dependence potential. This study aimed to assess ratings of dependence on electronic cigarettes and retrospectively compare them with rated dependence on tobacco cigarettes among a large sample of ex-smokers who switched to e-cigs. Methods: A total of 3,609 current users of e-cigs who were ex-cigarette smokers completed a 158-item online survey about their e-cig use, including 10 items designed to assess their previous dependence on cigarettes and 10 almost identical items, worded to assess their current dependence on e-cigs (range 0-20). Results: Scores on the 10-item Penn State (PS) Cigarette Dependence Index were significantly higher than on the comparable PS Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index (14.5 vs. 8.1, p < .0001). In multivariate analysis, those who had used e-cigs longer had higher e-cig dependence scores, as did those using more advanced e-cigs that were larger than a cigarette and had a manual button. Those using zero nicotine liquid had significantly lower e-cig dependence scores than those using 1-12 mg/ml, who scored significantly lower than those using 13 or greater mg/ml nicotine liquid (p < .003). Conclusions: Current e-cigarette users reported being less dependent on e-cigarettes than they retrospectively reported having been dependent on cigarettes prior to switching. E-cig dependence appears to vary by product characteristics and liquid nicotine concentration, and it may increase over time.
IntroductionElectronic cigarettes (e-cigs) in the current form were invented by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik in 2003 with patents held by the Ruyan company. Exports of e-cigs from China continue to rise despite legal challenges regarding their regulatory status (tobacco product, medical drug delivery device, or neither) and sales (mainly online) have continued to grow. One recent study reported that by September 2010 internet searches for e-cigs were several-hundred-fold greater than searches for nicotine replacement therapy products (1). However, despite the rapid rise in popularity of these products, remarkably little is known about e-cigs, how they are used, what substances are in them and what substances are delivered to the user and the environment. Figure 1 shows a typical e-cig setup for a breathactivated (pneumatic) inhalation. The cartridge holds a liquid mixture typically containing propylene glycol and nicotine. Inhalation activates a pressure-sensitive circuit that heats the atomizer and turns the liquid into a vapour which is drawn through the mouthpiece. The vapour is a fine mist without smoke or carbon-monoxide, which dissipates more quickly than smoke. Many e-cigs are designed for the tip of the e-cig to light up during inhalation and more recently some have been designed to light up blue rather than red to show that this is not really a cigarette (Figure 1).Two published studies have measured the blood nicotine levels resulting from e-cig use and, contrary to expectations, both studies found that even e-cigs labelled as 'high nicotine', produced remarkably low nicotine absorption. Bullen et al. (2) found that whereas smokers obtained a fairly typical blood nicotine concentration of 13.4 ng ⁄ ml from smoking a single cigarette, they obtained only 1.3 ng ⁄ ml from use of a Ruyan V8 e-cig, using a cartridge labelled as containing 16 mg of nicotine. Despite the very low nicotine delivery, the participants reported that the 'high nicotine' e-cig resulted in less desire to smoke S U M M A R YBackground: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) have experienced a rapid growth in popularity but little is known about how they are used. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the e-cig products used by experienced e-cig users, their pattern of e-cig use and the impact on tobacco use. Method: Face-to-face survey of 104 experienced e-cig users. Results: Of all the e-cig users, 78% had not used any tobacco in the prior 30 days. They had previously smoked an average of 25 cigarettes per day, and had tried to quit smoking an average of nine times before they started using e-cigs. Two-thirds had previously tried to quit smoking using an FDAapproved smoking cessation medication. The majority of the sample had used e-cigs daily for at least a year. Three quarters started using e-cigs with the intention of quitting smoking and almost all felt that the e-cig had helped them to succeed in quitting smoking. Two-thirds used e-cig liquid with a medium to high concentration of nicotine (13 mg +). Only 8% were using the most wid...
Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are becoming increasingly popular but little is known about how e-cig users' transition between the different device types and what device characteristics and preferences may influence the transition. Methods: Four thousand four hundred twenty-one experienced e-cig users completed an online survey about their e-cig use, devices, and preferences. Participants included in analysis were ever cigarette smokers who used an e-cig at least 30 days in their lifetime and who reported the type of their first and current e-cig device and the nicotine concentration of their liquid. Analyses focused on transitions between "first generation" devices (same size as a cigarette with no button) and "advanced generation" devices (larger than a cigarette with a manual button) and differences between current users of each device type. Results: Most e-cig users (n = 2603, 58.9%) began use with a first generation device, and of these users, 63.7% subsequently transitioned to current use of an advanced generation device. Among users who began use with an advanced generation device (n = 1818, 41.1%), only 5.7% transitioned to a first generation device. Seventy-seven percent of current advanced generation e-cig users switched to their current device in order to obtain a "more satisfying hit. " Battery capabilities and liquid flavor choices also influenced device choice. Conclusion: E-cig users commonly begin use with a device shaped like a cigarette and transition to a larger device with a more powerful battery, a button for manual activation and a wider choice of liquid flavors.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.