The electronic cigarette: more and more student consumers

Of MBO and HBO students aged 16 to 18, more than 4 out of 10 used an e-cigarette. One in eight (12%) still use the e-cigarette. Boys are more likely to use the e-cigarette than girls. There are no major differences between youth of different ages. Among students who have used an e-cigarette more than once, three percent do so (almost) daily, three percent (almost) weekly, and 37 percent occasionally. More than half who have used an e-cigarette more than once have already quit (57%). Among students who use an e-cigarette at least once in a while, nearly one-third (32%) always or mostly use an e-cigarette containing nicotine. Another quarter (24%) report sometimes using an e-cigarette with nicotine. One in ten (10%) do not know if they have ever used an e-cigarette containing nicotine.

Which comes first: tobacco or e-cigarette?

Of current e-cigarette users, 41% have not smoked tobacco in the past month, 16% have smoked in the past month but not daily, and 43% have smoked tobacco daily. Among students who have ever smoked tobacco and used an e-cigarette, 59% started smoking tobacco, one in five (19%) started with an e-cigarette, and 5% started both at the same time. The remaining 16% do not know where they started. Of MBO and HBO students aged 16-18, more than half (51%) have ever smoked, almost one-third (31%) have smoked in the past month, and one in six (17%) smoke daily. There are no differences between boys and girls.

On average seven cigarettes per day

Students who smoke (smoked last month) smoke an average of seven cigarettes a day. This also does not differ between boys and girls. For the group as a whole, smoking does not increase with age, but 16- and 17-year-old boys smoke less per day than 18-year-old boys.

Support for Smoking Cessation

Occasional smokers and those who have ever smoked were asked about smoking cessation attempts. Among current smokers, 56% have tried to quit for 24 hours or more. One-third of quitters were former smokers and two-thirds were current smokers. Quitters (n=890) were asked if they used aids to quit smoking. One in ten smokers indicated that they did; 90% quit without help.

E cigarette most often used device

Former smokers had less help quitting (5%) than current smokers (12%). This may be explained by the fact that many former smokers never started smoking regularly. The most frequently mentioned cessation tool is an e-cigarette (54%), followed by an online application or tool to quit smoking (30%). Most cigarettes sold in supermarkets are sold at a lower price than tobacco. The age limit for buying tobacco is 18, but nearly half (47%) of 16- and 17-year-old smokers report buying cigarettes themselves; boys (53%) outnumber girls (40%). Among 18-year-old students, the figure is 86%. Supermarkets are most often mentioned by 16- and 17-year-olds (10-14% respectively). This percentage is much higher for 18-year-olds: 57%. The gas pump is also mentioned less often by 16- (10%) and 17-year-olds (9%) than by 18-year-olds (17%), but this difference is not significant. Remarkably, the snack bar is mentioned significantly less often by 18-year-olds (0.5%) than by 16- (7%) and 17-year-olds (7%).

Smoking, e-cigarette and bong

Compared to 16-year-olds, MBO students smoked tobacco more often (once in their lifetime, last month and every day) and used an e-cigarette or bong more often. The use of the bong in the past month is also higher. MBO students also consistently score highest among 17- and 18-year-olds. The exception is the use of the bong in the last month, which is not significantly different between 17 year old VOs (11%) and MBOs (14%). It is also noticeable that HBO youth smoke less often on a daily basis (2%). HBO students also smoked a bong less frequently.

Trends since 2015

Smoking has not changed among MBO and HBO students since 2015. When broken down by age, there appears to be an increase among 16-year-olds and a decrease among 17- and 18-year-olds, but these differences are not significant. Current e-cigarette use has increased from 8% in 2015 to 12% in 2017. This increase is particularly noticeable among 18-year-olds, where current e-cigarette use increased from 7% to 11%.

Nicotine salts, more and more appreciated by vapers to put an end to tobacco

Trend of the moment, are organic e-liquids really organic?

To operate, an electronic cigarette is powered by a rechargeable battery. This provides the energy necessary for the resistance which heats the liquid stored in a reservoir. It will be transformed into steam which will be inhaled by the user.

Like any electronic device, the e cigarette and more precisely a part of its components have a lifetime. Among the components to be replaced is the battery. Through charge and discharge cycles, it wears out naturally. When its charge begins to diminish rapidly, it is best to replace it. The resistor is another component of the cigarette that should be changed if you notice any malfunction.

The liquid is one of the consumables that vaporisers buy the most. But pay attention to its quality. Not all liquids are the same. It is therefore advisable to buy it in trustworthy specialist shops, as you are never safe from poor quality liquids. It can be a danger to the health of the vaporizer.