Misinformation about a possible therapeutic role for nicotine against covid19 reduces the chances of stopping vaping

A recent study by the American NGO Truth Initiative, published in the journal Health Education & Behavior[1], examined whether misinformation about nicotine's potential therapeutic potential to prevent or treat COVID-19 facilitated relapse among people trying to quit e-cigarettes. Another study by the Truth Initiative points to young adults' lack of awareness of nicotine's addictive potential, or even a tendency to perceive this substance as having a positive impact on health.[2].

A sample of 507 e-cigarette users who reported making at least one quit attempt in the past year were surveyed in June 2021. The study—the first to examine the relationship between misinformation about nicotine during COVID-19 and relapse to quitting vaping—highlights the importance of countering misinformation about COVID-19 and ensuring that e-cigarette users looking to quit can easily find accurate information and resources to help them.

Reduced likelihood of quitting vaping

The results show that misinformation about nicotine is widespread: nearly one in three e-cigarette users said they remembered or believed at least one false claim that nicotine, or e-cigarettes, could protect them from COVID-19, and nearly one in five believed that using nicotine, or e-cigarettes, had a positive impact on health during the pandemic.

This study also found that misinformation about nicotine was associated with a greater likelihood of relapse after quitting vaping. Young adults who were trying to quit vaping and who recalled and believed at least one false statement about nicotine’s therapeutic potential were significantly more likely to relapse. Each piece of misinformation a young adult believed was associated with a 55% increase in the likelihood of relapse.

Misperceptions about the role of nicotine and COVID19

In 2020, misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic flooded online news and social media. The former claimed that smokers were less likely to be hospitalized and that nicotine prevented COVID-19 infection. Research to date does not support these purported benefits of nicotine on the disease, instead indicating that smoking increases the likelihood of disease progression and severe symptoms. Vaping and the use of smokeless tobacco products are also likely risk factors for COVID-19 infection and progression. Another popular theory claims that chemicals in e-cigarette vapor sterilize the air, providing protection against COVID-19 infection. This claim has been presented as an argument for vaping during the pandemic.

Young adults underestimate the dangers of nicotine

Many young adults are unaware of the dangers of nicotine, according to another Truth Initiative study published in June 2022.[3] in the BMJ Open[4]. Of 1,225 young people aged 18 to 34 surveyed, nearly one in three believe nicotine is no more harmful than a cup of coffee; one in four believe nicotine is useful as a medical treatment for mood, attention, and memory problems; and more than one in eight believe nicotine is only addictive when smoked in a tobacco cigarette. The researchers also found that the spread of misleading claims about nicotine, particularly regarding COVID-19, is linked to positive beliefs about the tobacco industry. Health misinformation, which has been pervasive during the COVID-19 pandemic, is helping to undermine public health and regulatory efforts to reduce youth nicotine use.

Keywords: Nicotine, disinformation, COVID19, vaping, electronic cigarette, withdrawal, Truth Initiative

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[1] Silver N, Kierstead E, Tran B, Sparrock L, Vallone D, Schillo B. Belief and Recall of Nicotine as Therapeutic for COVID-19 May Undermine E-Cigarette Quitting Behavior. Health Education & Behavior. July 2022. doi:10.1177/10901981221109127

[2] Research article, Misperceptions about nicotine may interfere with quitting vaping, Truth Initiative, published July 27, 2022, accessed July 28, 2022

[3] Research article, Young adults are underestimating the dangers of nicotine, Truth Initiative, published June 15, 2022, accessed July 28, 2022

[4] Silver NA, Kierstead EC, Briggs J, et al Charming e-cigarette users with distorted science: a survey examining social media platform use, nicotine-related misinformation and attitudes towards the tobacco industry BMJ Open 2022;12:e057027. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057027

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