A new study from the University of Cambridge reveals that e-cigarettes that are bubble gum or chocolate flavored attract children into trying and buying them. The vapor sticks are now the most widely used nicotine product for children in countries with strict tobacco control policies.
The Use of E-cigarettes by High Schoolers Tripled Between 2013 and 2014
The exact figures declare that the rate of high schoolers using e-cigarettes in the United States went up from 4.5% to over 13%. Middle school students using e-cigarettes using e-cigarettes went up from 1% to 4%. In England, use of these sticks in people between the ages of 11-18 went from 5% to 8%.
These findings have raised many concerns to the academia and regulatory bodies. The attraction that younger kids have to e-cigarettes might lead to tobacco use and addiction. As things stand, e-cigarettes are advertised in more than 8,000 flavors. These include anything from fruits to sweets. The candy-like flavoring is the most concerning, as younger people are more attracted to them.
Children Are Mostly Exposed to Sweet Flavored E-Cigarettes
The Cambridge study was published in the journal BMJ Tobacco Control. The researchers took 598 children and split them into three groups. One group was shown advertisements for candy-like flavored e-cigarettes while the second was shown ads for non-flavored cigarettes. The third group worked as the control group and saw no advertisements.
After the jump, the groups were asked questions in regards to the appeal of using e-cigarettes. They were asked about tobacco smoking, the harm in smoking and their reaction to the ads. The goal was to gauge if they were interested in buying and trying e-cigarettes. Group one responded that they liked the ads and had increased interest in buying and trying e-cigarettes. None of the groups expressed interest in tobacco smoking.
E-Cigarettes Are More Attractive than Medical Marijuana.
This study proves that e-cigarette smoking doesn’t make tobacco smoking more attractive. However, it doesn’t take away from the appeal of e-cigarettes themselves, which is also a nicotine product. There’s a lot that regulators need to take into account as e-cigarettes become more widespread.
There’s no exact study on the appeal of medical marijuana on kids though exposure might be at similar levels. However, using marijuana is a significant leap upwards in the scale of drug use for young people under 14 compared to e-cigarettes. Accessibility and financial feasibility are very different for medical marijuana. As it is introduced into several states with time, it will be regulated more closely. The same will definitely happen for e-cigarettes.
