Despite Evidence to The Contrary Australian Study Reiterates Flawed “Gateway Theory”

Source from:  Vapingpost 12/09/2020

In line with previous studies looking into the relationship between vaping and smoking, an earlier review also conducted by Australian researchers had debunked the infamous Gateway Theory. Titled, “Does the gateway theory justify a ban on nicotine vaping in Australia?,” this earlier review was conducted by renowned THR expert Colin Mendelsohn and Wayne Hall.

The authors had explained that a more plausible explanation as to why young people who vape are more likely to smoke, are personality factors. This means that those teens who vape are risk-takers and are therefore also more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, use cannabis and other substances, as well have unprotected sex. This argument has already been emphasized by other experts in multiple studies.

The Key findings from the present study were as follows:

“Smoking usually precedes vaping. At least 70-85% of teen smokers try vaping after having already started smoking.
Most vaping by adolescents is experimental and infrequent

Regular vaping is rare among non-smokers. Regular vaping by non-smokers is generally 1% or less in Australian and international surveys.

Many adolescent vapers use flavourings only and do not use nicotine. Nicotine addiction is rare in vapers who don’t smoke. In the US, <4% of non-smoking youth who vape have symptoms of nicotine dependence.

Some adolescents use vaping to quit smoking

Youth smoking rates have declined rapidly in the UK and US since the introduction of vaping, making it very unlikely that is increasing youth smoking. It is more likely that vaping is diverting some high-risk teens away from smoking to a safer alternative”.