Well, I think that ex-smokers are turning to vaping at a younger age. I'm not suggesting that we recruit never-vapers to vape for 20 years. However, a reasonable (if complicated) longitudinal study could be done, taking into account years/amount of smoking, vs. switching to vaping at younger ages (which I do see, pretty commonly on the board, from time to time). If my kiddo were still vaping, he'd be an excellent recruit. He smoked for about a year, and never more than a few cigarettes a day, and then was a pretty sub0hm, chain-vaping vaper for a while. I do think that as people switch at a younger age we could get reasonable, if not perfect results.
Most doctors seem to feel that there comes a time after a person stops smoking (via vaping or not) that cancers and things down the road really aren't as connected to smoking as someone who say, quit a week ago.
I also think there IS an (albeit smaller) group who tried vaping rather than smoking, and preferred it. Whether they will be into vaping for the long haul remains to be seen.
Also, different cultures approach vaping quite differently. England is really banging away at harm reduction and switching to vaping. I wouldn't be shocked if a decent cohort study could be devised there, if not today, then fairly soon. Also, other EU places, Sweden seems to be doing quite well in studying Swedish snus and etc.
It doesn't have to happen in the US, it doesn't have to be a "perfect" "never-smoker" study, but I don't think the "artifact" of former smoking makes it impossible.... It's something that would have to be addressed and quantified, and worked around, but I don't think it would be impossible to conduct, albeit some caution would be needed in terms of results. I think dual use would have to be a completely separate category, and etc.
Just because something isn't "perfect" doesn't mean it has to be "hard" "meaningless" "impossible" etc.
Anna
Most doctors seem to feel that there comes a time after a person stops smoking (via vaping or not) that cancers and things down the road really aren't as connected to smoking as someone who say, quit a week ago.
I also think there IS an (albeit smaller) group who tried vaping rather than smoking, and preferred it. Whether they will be into vaping for the long haul remains to be seen.
Also, different cultures approach vaping quite differently. England is really banging away at harm reduction and switching to vaping. I wouldn't be shocked if a decent cohort study could be devised there, if not today, then fairly soon. Also, other EU places, Sweden seems to be doing quite well in studying Swedish snus and etc.
It doesn't have to happen in the US, it doesn't have to be a "perfect" "never-smoker" study, but I don't think the "artifact" of former smoking makes it impossible.... It's something that would have to be addressed and quantified, and worked around, but I don't think it would be impossible to conduct, albeit some caution would be needed in terms of results. I think dual use would have to be a completely separate category, and etc.
Just because something isn't "perfect" doesn't mean it has to be "hard" "meaningless" "impossible" etc.
Anna