Dual users’ perceptions of the addictive properties of cigarettes versus E-cigarettes

• Published in: Addictive behaviors 2023-01, Vol.136, p.107483-107483, Article 107483
• Main Authors: Perry, Robin N., Girgulis, Jane P., Harrison, Sarah L., Barrett, Sean P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Canada; Craving; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Female; Humans; Nicotine; Tobacco Products
• ISSN: 0306-4603; 1873-6327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107483

•Dual users in this sample were more dependent on combustible cigarettes, relative to e-cigarettes.•Dual users also endorsed the belief that cigarettes are more addictive and harmful to one’s health, relative to e-cigarettes.•When comparing products, the addictive properties of cigarettes were more strongly attributed to nicotine, relative to e-cigarettes; Whereas non-nicotine factors (e.g. flavouring) were believed to make a relatively larger contribution to the addictiveness of e-cigarettes, especially among women.•Negative affective states (e.g., stressed, restless, anxious, frustrated) and situational cues (e.g., other smokers, drinking alcohol) were associated with relatively greater increases in craving for cigarettes, relative to e-cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes (“e-cigarettes”) are commonly promoted as a less-harmful alternative to combustible cigarettes, yet many individuals concurrently use both products (“dual users”). Little is known about the extent to which dual users’ perceptions of the addictive properties of these products differ, or to what extent there are differences in the factors that elicit craving for each product. An online survey evaluated beliefs about the addictive properties of cigarettes vs e-cigarettes and the situational and affective precipitants of product craving, on a scale from 1 to 10, in a sample of Canadian adults that reported past-month use of combustible and e-cigarettes (N = 175; 79 female). Participants rated cigarettes as more addictive than e-cigarettes, and on average reported higher levels of dependence on combustible cigarettes. While the addictive properties of both combustible and e-cigarettes were largely attributed to nicotine, non-nicotine factors (e.g. flavouring, other non-nicotine ingredients) were believed to make a relatively stronger contribution to the addictive properties of e-cigarettes, particularly among women. Participants reported greater increases in craving for combustible cigarettes in response to negative affective states and situational factors, and these effects were strongest among participants that displayed greater dependence on combustible tobacco relative to e-cigarettes. Dual users perceived cigarettes to be more addictive than e-cigarettes and attributed the addictive properties of each product to different factors. Further, cravings for combustible cigarettes were more strongly linked to certain negative affective states and situational factors relative to e-cigarettes. Fi