Researchers from Vancouver’s Cancer Research Institute, the University of Michigan, and Georgetown University have delved into the critical question of whether flavored e-liquids aid smokers in successfully transitioning away from tobacco. The contentious issue of flavors in e-liquids, often criticized for attracting young people to vaping, has led to bans on these flavors in several countries.
Opponents argue that sweet or pastry flavors are unnecessary for adults seeking an alternative to smoking. Some European nations are contemplating flavor bans, and there are speculations about a stringent stance on flavors in the upcoming version of the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive.
The research team, comprised of Yoonseo Mok, Jihyoun Jeon, David Levy, and Rafael Meza, noted the limited research on the impact of e-cigarette flavors on cessation outcomes. Their study aimed to contribute to this knowledge gap by examining the association between electronic cigarette use, e-liquid flavors, and the success of smoking cessation.
The researchers analyzed data from the American 2018-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement-Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS). Their statistical analysis explored the relationships between flavored e-liquid use, the number of quit attempts, and the success of smoking cessation among individuals who had been smoking for at least the previous 12 months. The study considered both daily and occasional e-cigarette users.
The findings indicated that individuals using non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes were more likely to succeed in quitting compared to those using non-flavored or tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes. Menthol/mint flavor users showed slightly higher odds of quit attempts and success than users of other non-tobacco flavors.
The researchers concluded that the use of e-cigarettes and flavored e-liquids is positively associated with both attempting to quit smoking and successfully achieving cessation. They emphasized that smokers seeking to quit could find the most success with flavored e-liquids, especially menthol and mint flavors.
Importantly, the study suggests that banning flavors could jeopardize the potential of e-cigarettes to assist smokers in quitting. Even if other non-tobacco flavored products linked to youth vaping were removed from the market, maintaining access to menthol or mint-flavored e-cigarettes could still support smoking cessation efforts.
The research underscores the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking cessation tool, emphasizing the crucial role of flavors in this process. The question to users is: which flavored e-liquid worked best for you?