[The e-cigarette disrupts other consumptions in Parisian teenagers (2012-2014)]

Objectives: To analyze experimentation with and use of e-cigarette by middle school and high school students in Paris.

Method: Since 2012, questions about e-cigarette use have been included in the cross-sectional survey on tobacco that is administered annually since 1991 by the Paris sans tabac association. Overall, 2% of the 12-19 years-old attending school in Paris were surveyed.

Results: Of the 10,051 teenagers aged 12-19 surveyed in 2012-2014, 21.8% (n=2194) had tried e-cigarettes. Among these experimenters, 58.9% (n=1292) were smokers, 37.4% (n=820) were non-smokers and 3.7% (n=82) were ex-smokers. From 2012 to 2014, the rate of e-cigarette experimenters increased significantly (from 7.9% to 26.3% for 12-15 years and from 12.2% to 47.2% for 16-19 years-old). The rate of regular e-cigarettes users increased in the same proportion. However over this time, there has been a decline from 15.3% to 10.9% in the rate of 12-15 year old smokers (regular or occasional) and from 38.3% to 33.5% of smokers aged 16-19. Other consumption (cannabis, alcohol abuse) also decreased but no causal relationship can be established.

Conclusion: The annual doubling of e-cigarette experimentation and regular use rates has been associated with a decrease in the consumption of tobacco and other products. These data should provide some reassurance against fears that e-cigarette use among young people will provide a significant gateway to tobacco smoking.