LOGAN – Studies show vaping, while often marketed as safer than traditional smoking, carries significant health risks and is becoming more commonly used among college students.
Utah State University researcher Tzung-Shiang Ou recently led two related new studies collecting data over four years from students at three major U.S. universities.
Dr. Ou, from USU’s Kinesiology and Health Sciences faculty, said data showed more than one-third of college e-cigarette users who vaped in social settings also were using alcohol and were more likely to experience problems related to drinking. He said the concern is that nicotine and alcohol have reinforcing effects on each other, leading users to want to consume even more.
He said the ultimate goal in this research would be to target the behaviors and the motivations behind these behaviors.
Researchers from San Diego State University, National Taiwan University and University of Texas Health Science Center collaborated on the study.
The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health.