MINNEAPOLIS, M.N. — Today, the American Vaping Association, a leading advocate for the benefits of vapor products such as electronic cigarettes, reacted to the release of data on the usage of vapor products by adult Minnesotans, as reported by the Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey. The survey, which was conducted and released by the Minnesota Department of Health, found that vapor products are now the most commonly used product by Minnesota smokers looking to quit.Among the highlights of the study:
- Among smokers who made a quit attempt in the prior 12 months, 45.3% used vapor products, a percentage more than double that of nicotine replacement therapy products (21.8%) and more than quadruple that who used medicines (10.5%) or behavioral counseling (9.1%)
- From 2010 to 2014, smoking by adults declined by 10% (from 16.1% to 14.4%).
- Of the 5.9% of MN adults who have vaped in the last 30 days, about 1 in 4 no longer smoke (22.5%).
- Smoking by young adults between 18 and 24 years old experienced a decline of nearly 30% (from 27.8% to 19.9%).
- Among respondents who have ever vaped, 50.1% and 45.7%, respectively, used them with with the intention of cutting down on tobacco or quitting tobacco entirely.
- Successful quitting increased from 12.8% in 2010 to 15.6% in 2014, although the difference was not statistically significant.
Gregory Conley, President of the American Vaping Association, issued the following statement:
“Public health advocates should cheer the fact that vapor products are now the most commonly used quit smoking product among Minnesota adults. Anti-smoking activists may not think much of the intelligence of smokers, but this survey makes clear that many are smart enough to recognize that vaping is a viable option for those looking to quit smoking.”Activists have long claimed that vaping may ‘renormalize’ smoking and lead to increased smoking by teens and young adults. These naysayers can breathe easy, as not only has smoking among teens in Minnesota sharply declined, but this survey found a massive decline in smoking by young adults aged 18 to 24.”In the face of this new data showing that vaping is the quit smokng tool preferred by most Minnesota adult smokers, it’s time for Minnesota anti-smoking organizations to reexamine their anti-vaping stance.”
About the American Vaping Association
The American Vaping Association is a nonprofit organization that advocates for fair and sensible regulation of vapor products, otherwise known as electronic cigarettes, with the goal of maximizing the number of adult smokers who use these products to quit smoking. The AVA was founded by Gregory Conley, a consumer and industry advocate with a long track record of advocating for vapor products dating back to 2010.
We are dedicated to educating the public and government officials about public health benefits offered by vapor products, which are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid nicotine or nicotine-free solution and create an inhalable vapor. The AVA is not a trade group and does not speak for any particular businesses, including our industry sponsors.
You can learn more about AVA and vaping by visiting the AVA website. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
