Use of Electronic Cigarettes Among State Tobacco Cessation Quitline Callers.

Vickerman KA, Carpenter KM, Altman T, Nash CM, Zbikowski SM. Nicotine Tob Res. 2013 May 8. [Epub ahead of print]

This study examined e-cigarette use among tobacco users seeking help from state tobacco quitlines, the reasons for its use, and whether e-cigarette use influences success with quitting tobacco. Results show that nearly one-third of respondents reported ever using or trying e-cigarettes. Of those who had tried e-cigarettes, over six in ten (61.7%) reported using them for less than one month. Reasons for using e-cigarettes including for help with quitting other tobacco (51.3%) or to replace other tobacco (15.2%). E-cigarette users (both those who had used e-cigarettes for more than one month and less than one month) were significantly less likely to be quit from tobacco seven months after calling a state quitline compared with participants who had never tried e-cigarettes (30-day point prevalence rates: 16.6% and 21.7% vs. 31.3%, p<.001). The authors conclude that the rates of e-cigarette use, and the use of e-cigarettes as cessation aids should inform policy and treatment discussions on this topic, especially since the FDA has not approved e-cigarettes as a cessation aid.