A study by the University of Otago in Wellington found that smokers are increasingly using e-cigarettes to quit smoking.

The lead author of this study, Professor Richard Edwards from the University’s Department of Public Health, found that e-cigarette (heat not burn heatsticks) is most commonly used among people aged 18-24 and those who have recently quit smoking. Research also shows that between 2016 and 2018, the level of awareness and use of e-cigarettes among smokers and recent quitters had increased.

As part of the New Zealand branch of the International Tobacco Control Policy Review (ITC) project, the study included surveys of 1,155 people between 2016 and 2017 and 1,020 people (of which 400 were Maori) who smoked or recently quit smoking. Participants were recruited from a nationally representative New Zealand health survey. They were asked about their smoking behavior, views on e-cigarettes, and the reasons for their use.

The 2018 survey found that the majority of smokers interviewed (98%) are aware of the existence of e-cigarettes. A total of 77% of the respondents said that they had tried smoking, 22% of the respondents said that they currently use e-cigarettes at least monthly, and 11% of the respondents use e-cigarettes every day. Professor Edwards pointed out that the usage patterns of Maori and non-Maori participants are broadly similar, 78% of people use e-cigarettes to quit smoking, 19% of the respondents were 18-24 years old, and 10% were from the seniors group. The most frequent use among those who quit smoking every day is 23%, and 8% of daily smokers are current smokers. 78% of people use e-cigarettes to quit smoking, and 81% use e-cigarettes to quit smoking. In terms of age, 19% of users are users aged 18-24, while 10% of users are from older groups, which is not surprising, because young people know more about technology.

Professor Edwards said that it is encouraging that e-cigarettes are widely used among recent ex-smokers and those who want to quit. He said: “This shows that e-cigarettes can help reduce smoking rates and help achieve Otroa’s goal of being smoke-free by 2025.” Chinese HNB supplier is helping to do that.

On the other hand, he added that the fact that it is commonly used among the younger generation is worrying. “However, what is worrying is that e-cigarettes are more common among 18-24 year-olds. If e-cigarettes are to make a substantial contribution to reducing smoking, more e-cigarettes need to be used in the elderly.”

Many smokers do not smoke e-cigarettes often

Another finding that worries researchers is that a large number of smokers report that they are only trying e-cigarettes instead of regularly using e-cigarettes. “The most common potential obstacle is that 68% of the subjects believe that smoking is not as satisfactory as smoking, and 39% mistakenly believe that e-cigarettes are as harmful or harmful as smoking, or are uncertain (15%).He added that such beliefs indicate the need to educate the public about vaping through channels such as the vaping Facts website. “This can enable smokers to understand the relative costs and hazards of smoking and e-cigarettes, so as to encourage smokers to quit smoking or switch to e-cigarettes completely, and encourage smokers to seek expert advice from professional retailers and provide them with the best Good e-cigarette product.”

It has been found that saving money is a big motivating factor in encouraging this transition

Edwards also pointed out that the most common incentive for people to smoke is to save money. Therefore, a tax system that maintains high cigarette prices compared to smoking products may prove effective.

Regarding the achievement of New Zealand’s smoke-free goal, the author of the research report said that based on the current situation, it is unlikely to achieve this goal by 2025, especially for Maori and Pacific nations, where more needs to be taken. action. “E-cigarettes have made a useful contribution, but more efforts are needed to make smoke-free Aotearoa available to all New Zealanders. A comprehensive strategy is needed to make smoked tobacco products less attractive and difficult. Addictive and difficult to obtain, to supplement the impact of alternative products such as e-cigarettes in reducing smoking rates.”