Research Suggests Brain Differences Precede Nicotine Use
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has shed new light on the long-standing debate about nicotine’s effects on the brain. The comprehensive research, which followed nearly 10,000 adolescents aged 9 to 11 over a three-year period, challenges the notion that nicotine use causes harmful changes in brain structure.
Read moreIn recent years, the use of vaping products among Canadian teenagers has become a growing concern for public health officials, parents, and advocates. To better understand the scope of this issue, let’s take a closer look at the latest data from the Canadian Substance Use Survey and explore the ongoing efforts to curb youth vaping through flavor regulations.
Read moreA recent study conducted by a team of Australian and New Zealand academics has found that New Zealand’s adult smoking rate has fallen faster than Australia’s over the past decade, despite New Zealand starting with a higher rate in 2013. The researchers explored potential reasons for this difference, focusing on the contrasting approaches to vaping regulation in the two countries.
Read moreStudy Challenges “Gateway” Theory, Highlights Need for Further Research
A large-scale review of 123 studies, encompassing data from approximately 4 million participants under the age of 29 in the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe, has found no conclusive evidence that vaping leads to cigarette smoking among youth. The findings, published in the journal Addiction, challenge the widely debated “gateway” theory and underscore the need for further research to establish any causal links between e-cigarette use and smoking initiation.
Read moreA University of Queensland study reveals smoking rates declined twice as fast in New Zealand compared to Australia, crediting less restrictive vaping policies. Between 2016-2023, New Zealand’s adult daily smoking rates fell by 10% annually, while Australia saw only a 5% annual drop. Researchers attribute this gap to differing approaches to vaping access.
Read moreThe University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) has launched a study to investigate the long-term effects of vaping on cardiovascular and pulmonary health: Vape Check. Funded by a five-year, $5.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Vape Check study aims to provide the most comprehensive evidence to date on how long-term vaping affects disease risk and overall well-being.
Read moreQuitting Smoking Can Add Years to Your Life, Especially if Done Early
A new study by researchers at University College London (UCL) has found that every cigarette smoked can reduce life expectancy by approximately 20 minutes on average. The findings, published in the journal Addiction, suggest that the cumulative effect of smoking can have a significant impact on the length and quality of life.
Read moreState Implements New Law in 2025 to Curb Youth E-Cigarette Use
A recent study conducted by The Freedom Center, a Maryland-based addiction treatment facility, has identified Kentucky as the seventh-largest underage vaping hotspot in the United States. The study analyzed data from the American Lung Association, Public Health Law Center, and the Center on Alcohol, Substance Use and Addiction (CASAA), revealing that 21.9% of Kentucky high school students use vapes.
Read moreGSTHR Briefing Paper Showcases Aotearoa New Zealand’s Smoking Cessation Success Through Vaping
The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR), a project from public health agency Knowledge·Action·Change (KAC), has released its latest Briefing Paper, which sheds light on Aotearoa New Zealand’s remarkable journey towards achieving “smokefree” status. The report, titled “Pro-consumer laws and an endorsement for vaping: why smoking is disappearing in Aotearoa New Zealand,” showcases the country’s rapid embrace of vaping as a critical tool in reducing smoking rates and provides valuable insights for other countries seeking to tackle the global smoking epidemic.
Read moreA recent review conducted by the In Silico research team, a project led by the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) at the University of Catania, has found that e-cigarettes are more effective compared to other treatments used for smoking cessation.
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