The Association Between Electronic Cigarettes and Traditional Cigarettes in the Youth: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are seen as a “healthy” alternative in comparison to traditional cigarettes. However, the increased use of e-cigarettes as a new trend among the youth, may serve as a gateway to traditional cigarette use.

Objective: The integrative literature review aimed to provide a comprehensive review of current research on the association of e-cigarettes with the use of traditional cigarettes in the youth.

Method: An integrative literature review was used to examine and summarize previous research on the correlation between the use of electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarette in the youth population.

Findings/Results: The analysis revealed common factors between electronic cigarette use and the initiation of traditional cigarette smoking such as exposure, risk behavior, and perceived harm.

Conclusions: According to the literature, youth are at an increased risk for electronic cigarette use in conjunction with traditional cigarettes. There is a need to further research on the health implications of electronic cigarettes and create educational, prevention programs that target the youth population in order to decrease likelihood of using such products.

Key Words: electronic cigarette, e-cigarettes, vapes, youth, risks, perception, traditional cigarettes, smoke, non-smoking, and addiction