For years the ‘Gateway Theory’ has been used as an argument against e-cigarettes. But, as research on vaping continues to grow, it is undeniable that in fact the opposite is true.
What is the ‘Gateway Theory’?
This idea suggests that e-cigarettes are a gateway that leads non-smokers to smoke. It is based on the assumption that novelty and fun flavours will lead never-smokers to pick up an e-cigarette, they will then become addicted to nicotine and this will lead them to begin smoking. The conclusion being that picking up that e-cigarette caused them to become a smoker.
Not only is this the opposite of what e-cigarettes were designed to do, but the evidence does not support it.
In fact, evidence does suggest thar vaping is a gateway; a gateway out of smoking!
A gateway out of smoking
Year-on-year, the data shows that the proportion of e-cigarette users who are never-smokers is extremely small. The recently published update report from PHE, along with the use of e-cigarettes 2020 fact sheet from ASH, have the most recent statistics.
58.9% of current vapers are ex-smokers. These people have used e-cigarettes either as a stop smoking aid, or as a tool to help maintain a previous successful quit attempt.
Additionally, 38.3% of vapers are classified as dual-users. This means that they both smoker and vape, and are using an e-cigarette to decrease the amount they smoke. Some of these people will go on to make a full switch to vaping in time.
This leaves just 2.8% of vapers who are never smokers. This equates to only 0.3% of all never-smokers, and is in fact down from 0.8% in 2019.
Looking towards a smokefree future
PHE release an annual update on the use of e-cigarettes in England, and these numbers have remained pretty consistent year-on-year.
Fortunately, public health authorities in England have been quick to dispute the gateway theory. It is clear to see that they have been utilised both effectively and successfully here. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for countries like Australia, where the gateway theory seems to have played a role in the ban of nicotine vaping.
It is the hope of the worldwide vaping community that authorities outside of the UK will reconsider their stance on vaping and follow the lead of England in utilising e-cigarettes as a public health tool. Read more about this in our post ‘Article calls for EU to rethink stance on e-cigarettes’.
If you or someone you know is considering quitting smoking and would like to learn more about how an e-cigarette could help, head over to our blog or reach out to our Customer Service Team.
Sources
https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/vaping-is-the-gateway-out-of-smoking
https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/vaping-is-the-gateway-out-of-smoking
