10.2. SR 09-08-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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E-cigarettes: an evidence update 88 significantly lower in Australia than in the UK in 2013, the use of EC increased at the same rate in Australia and the UK between 2010 and 2013 [183]. Canada took a similar approach to regulating EC as Australia by prohibiting the sale of EC with nicotine through existing laws. However, a recent House of Commons report stated that the current regulatory approach was not working to restrict access to EC with nicotine [184]. Canada has now put forward recommendations to develop a new legislative framework for EC that would most likely allow the sale of EC with nicotine [184]. There has been only one population-level survey of EC use in Canada. The 2013 Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CTADS) of Canadians 15 years and older found that 9% had ever tried an EC, with trial being higher among young people aged 15–19 years at 20% [185]. Use in the past 30 days was lower at 2%, with past 30 day use being higher among young people aged 15–19 years at 3%. Of those who tried an EC, 55% stated the EC did not contain nicotine, while 26% reported it did contain nicotine, with 19% reporting uncertainty. Whether the EC they tried contained nicotine is uncertain given (1) the ban on the sale of EC with nicotine, and (2) reports that many EC sold and bought in Canada are labelled as not containing nicotine but actually contain nicotine [184]. Although it is difficult to make comparisons due to different survey methods and questions, the percentage of young people (15–19 years) who have tried EC in Canada (20%) is roughly similar to the percentage who have tried EC in GB in 2014 (reported at 8%, 15%, 18%, and 19%, for ages 15 to 18, respectively). Summary of findings Although EC use may be lower in countries with more restrictions, these restrictions have not prevented EC use. Overall, use is highest among current smokers, with low numbers of non-smokers reporting ever use. Current use of EC in other countries is associated with being a smoker or ex-smoker, similar to the findings in the UK. EC use is frequently misreported, with experimentation presented as regular use. Increases in youth EC trial and use are associated with decreases in smoking prevalence in all countries, with the exception of one study from Poland. Policy implications o Future research should continue to monitor and evaluate whether different EC policies across countries are related to EC use and to smoking cessation and smoking prevalence. o Consistent and agreed measures of trial, occasional and regular EC use among youth and adults are urgently needed to aid comparability.