Has vaping led to a positive perception of tobacco use among youth?

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Vaping Has Not Fostered Positive Perceptions of Tobacco Use Among Youth, Study Indicates

A study published in the journal Thorax found that the rise in e-cigarette use among 13- to 15-year-olds in Britain has not led to a more favourable view of tobacco. Researchers concluded that vaping did not "renormalise" youth smoking, even during a period of significant growth in largely unregulated e-cigarette use within the UK. The study's findings suggest that perceptions of smoking among young teens have actually become more negative.
Declining Favourable Views on Smoking

The research analysed data from a quarter of a million young teens in Britain between 1998 and 2015. During this period, the proportion of 13- to 15-year-olds who considered it "OK to try a cigarette" dropped significantly, from 70 per cent 15 years prior to just 27 per cent in 2015. This indicates a substantial shift away from viewing smoking as acceptable.
Accelerated Decline in Positive Perceptions

Crucially, the study observed that favourable perceptions of regular smoking among this age group continued to decline at a faster rate following the proliferation of e-cigarettes from 2011 to 2015. This trend would be contrary to the idea that smoking was being "renormalised" by vaping. Instead, it suggests that the decline in positive attitudes towards traditional cigarettes was either maintained or accelerated.
Overall Reduction in Smoking Behaviour

Concurrently with the shift in attitudes, actual smoking behaviour among young teens also decreased. The percentage of 13- to 15-year-olds who had smoked at least once fell from 70 per cent to 27 per cent over the study period, and the share of regular smokers dropped from 19 per cent to five per cent. These figures demonstrate an overall reduction in smoking prevalence among this demographic.

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Has vaping led to a positive perception of tobacco use among youth?

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