USING both vapes and cigarettes could mean a person is less likely to quit than their peers who only smoke or only vape, according to international research.
The large review of 16 studies, involving almost 10,000 subjects, found that over time, most of these 'dual users' tend to revert to only smoking cigarettes.
The researchers say their findings suggest that taking up vaping while continuing to smoke will probably not help people to stop smoking.
"Given the extensive marketing of vapes as healthier alternatives to conventional smoking, they have gained popularity among people trying to quit smoking," said study author Josef Hamoud from the University Medical Center Gottingen, Germany.
"There is still a lot we don't know about the long-term health effects of vaping.
"However, credible studies have already delivered concerning results indicating that dual use might be even more harmful than conventional smoking," he said.
Researchers suggested that "dual use might prove to be a major hindrance in achieving smoking abstinence, and the practice shouldn't be recommended for treating nicotine addiction".
Read the study HERE.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 04 Dec 24
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 04 Dec 24
