Proponents of vaping often argue it helps people quit tobacco, but a new study has found that while smoking rates among 14 to 15-year-olds have declined substantially in recent decades, the rise of e-cigarettes may have slowed that decline.
The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health—Western Pacific, found no evidence that vaping reduces harm for adolescents. Instead, it suggests vaping has “substantially added to harms,” particularly for Māori youth.
“We sometimes hear that e-cigarettes might be a harm-reduction device for Māori and Pacific youth … our results show the opposite,” senior author Associate Professor Andrew Waa said.
How Smoking Trends Shifted
Smoking rates—whether ever smoked, regular smoking, or daily smoking—fell across all groups over the 21 years. But the rate of decline slowed from around 2010, coinciding with the emergence of vaping. The trend was most pronounced for Māori students….
Youth Smoking Gains Have Stalled in the Vaping Era, Study Finds
