Striking Dutch Survey
A survey conducted on behalf of Dutch trade association Esigbond and consumer organisation Acvoda finds that three quarters of Dutch e-cigarette users would still smoke without the e-cigarette
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by Dave Cross
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Esigbond says: “This is the outcome of a large survey among 2,981 Dutch e-cigarette users by consumer organisation Acvoda and trade association Esigbond. On average, vapers attempted 5.1 cessation attempts before switching from regular cigarettes to the e-cigarette. Furthermore, almost nine out of ten vapers experience health improvements such as a better condition and less coughing after switching. The Netherlands has about 400 thousand e-cigarette users who are on average 45 years old.”
They says that the desire to quit is the most important reason for switching: “The vast majority of e-cigarette users have switched because they want a less harmful alternative to smoking regular cigarettes (63%) or because they want to quit smoking (54%). Of those surveyed, 46% believe they would not have been able to quit smoking without an e-cigarette. Also, 81% of vapers say that flavours in e-cigarettes have played an important role in their switch from regular cigarettes to the e-cigarette.”
The survey highlighted a history of failure using other methods of quitting:
- More than three quarters of vapers have tried other smoking cessation aids before switching, but they are very dissatisfied with them
- Former smokers are most negative about nicotine chewing gum (44%), followed by nicotine patches (43%) and nicotine sprays (28%)
“This explains why many quit attempts with these products have failed in the past. Over 31% of respondents said they had started smoking again after stopping with the help of nicotine gum, sprays or patches.”
The organisations say the survey also found that nearly all e-cigarette users (96%) smoked before starting vaping. In fact, the majority (70%) of vapers were heavy smokers, smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day.
Furthermore, it transpired that not all e-cigarette users have managed to completely switch to vaping as 13% stated they still smoke some form of a tobacco product.
More than 90% of e-cigarette users said they experienced health benefits from switching. This included:
- A decrease in coughing (70%)
- A general improved condition (69%)
- Improved sense of smell or taste (64%)
- Less shortness of breath (62%)
About 29% of e-cigarette users say their health improvement has also been confirmed by a doctor.
Emil ‘t Hart, the chairperson of the vapour shop trade association Esigbond said: “This study shows that many ex-smokers would actually continue to smoke if it were not for the e-cigarette. We also see that the e-cigarette is much more appreciated by smokers than other cessation aids.
“Flavours in e-cigarettes explain part of the success, as for many quitters, the flavours are essential in switching from the regular cigarette to the less harmful e-cigarette.
“This research shows that the e-cigarette deserves a place in anti-smoking policy and that it is very unwise to make the e-cigarette unattractive by banning flavours.”
References:
- Esigbond - https://www.esigbond.nl/
Photo Credit:
IMAGE BY MABEL AMBER FROM PIXABAY
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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