Modeling the public health impact of e-cigarettes on adolescents and adults

Since the introduction of electronic cigarettes to the U.S. market in 2007, vaping prevalence has surged in both adult and adolescent populations. E-cigarettes are advertised as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes and as a method of smoking cessation, but the U.S. government and health professionals are concerned that e-cigarettes attract young non-smokers. Here, we develop and analyze a dynamical systems model of competition between traditional and electronic cigarettes for users. With this model, we predict the change in smoking prevalence due to the introduction of vaping, and we determine the conditions under which e-cigarettes present a net public health benefit or harm to society.

Automated summary

Since the introduction of electronic cigarettes to the U.S. market in 2007, vaping prevalence has increased significantly in adult and adolescent populations. Concerns have been raised by the U.S. government and health professionals about the attraction of e-cigarettes to young non-smokers. A dynamical systems model was developed to analyze the competition between traditional and electronic cigarettes, predicting changes in smoking prevalence and determining the conditions under which e-cigarettes may benefit or harm society's public health.