A comprehensive study published in BMC Medicine, funded by Cancer Research UK, analyzed survey data from over 54,000 adults in England, collected between 2013 and 2024, focusing on smoking cessation efforts.

The research revealed a significant increase in vaping among former smokers, with one in 50 reporting they vaped in 2013, which surged to one in five by 2024, coinciding with the rise of disposable e-cigarettes.

Notably, vaping prevalence is particularly high among younger demographics, with 59% of 18-year-olds who quit smoking for over a year indicating they vape, compared to just 11% of those aged 65 and older.

Among ex-smokers who quit before 2011, vaping rates rose dramatically from 0.4% in 2013 to 3.7% by May 2024, indicating a growing trend even among those who have long abstained from nicotine.

The findings suggest that the rise in vaping is largely attributed to its increasing use as a method for smoking cessation.

Dr. Sarah Jackson, the lead author, noted that while vaping can help prevent relapse into smoking, the increase in vaping among long-term ex-smokers is concerning.

Professor Lion Shahab, a senior author of the study, emphasized the necessity for further research to understand the long-term effects of vaping on relapse risk and nicotine addiction.

The researchers called for additional longitudinal studies to determine whether long-term vaping is more likely to increase or decrease relapse rates among ex-smokers.