E-cigarettes are more likely to be used by alcohol drinkers and former cigarette smokers

Researchers examined data from 5,423 individuals with recorded tobacco use in the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A total of 116 (2.6 percent) of NHANES participants were found to use e-cigarettes.

They found electronic cigarettes were used by 8 percent of people who never smoked. When compared to individuals who never used any tobacco products, e-cigarette users were:

• 6.32 times as likely to be exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke.
• 4.19 times as likely to report drinking alcohol 12 times or more in the last 12 months.
• Less likely to be college graduates, illicit drug users and people with an income of at least $75,000.

Compared to other tobacco users, e-cigarette users were more likely to be current or former smokers. Former smokers were 23 times likely to use e-cigarette, within the last three months of quitting cigarettes.

With an observed trend, the longer the time duration since quitting cigarettes, the lower the difference was between e-cigarette users and other tobacco users. However, the difference remained large and significant for all time intervals, researchers said.

The American Heart Association cautions against the use of e-cigarettes, stating that e-cigarettes containing nicotine are tobacco products that should be subject to all laws that apply to these products. The association also calls for strong new regulations to prevent access, sales and marketing of e-cigarettes to youth, and for more research into the product's health impact.