New Study Finds that eCig Use to Reduce Cigarette Smoking May Not Increase Nicotine Dependence

A recent Penn St College of Medicine study that was conducted on 520 participants has found that electronic cigarette usage may not lead to an increase in nicotine dependence when they are being used as a substitute for combustible cigarettes. Study participants received a nicotine vape that delivered 36, 8 or 0 mg/mL (nicotine free vapes) of nicotine, or a cigarette substitute that contained no tobacco over the course of six months. The vape or cigarette substitute was used as a tool in their efforts to reduce their traditional cigarette usage.

The Penn St study utilized the Penn State E-Cigarette Dependence Index to calculate a participants’ e-cigarette dependence and regular urine samples throughout the study to measure cotinine, a biomarker for nicotine exposure.

eCig Usage Study Results

At the end of the six month study, all study participants in the e-Cig groups reported significant, decreased cigarette consumption. Participants in the group that had 36 mg/mL nicotine-strength vapes ended up smoking the least amount of combustible cigarettes per day. Those in the e-cigarette groups reported significantly lower dependence on the Penn State Cigarette Dependence Index than those in the cigarette substitute (control) group.