Researchers from Columbia University in the United States report that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are linked to a higher likelihood of binge drinking among teenagers. The findings were published in the journal Substance Use and Abuse, authored by a team of researchers who analyzed a large national dataset. The study shines a light on a concerning pattern in which nicotine exposure during adolescence coincides with risky drinking behaviors, prompting a closer look at how these substances interact in young people.
The researchers examined data from more than 50,000 adolescents aged 13 to 18 who were surveyed between 2017 and 2019. Participants completed a detailed questionnaire that asked whether they had consumed alcohol in the past month, among other health and behavior questions. This sizeable cross-section allowed the authors to explore how nicotine use correlates with patterns of alcohol use across a broad young population and to examine differences by intensity of nicotine exposure.
After thorough analysis, the scientists found that compared with teenagers who had never used nicotine, those who had used nicotine through vaping were 21 times more likely to participate in a binge drinking episode lasting three to five days. When looking at combined exposure from regular smoking and vaping, the risk rose to 36 times for binge drinking ten or more times. These figures come from careful statistical modeling that controlled for several demographic and behavioral factors to isolate the association between nicotine exposure and drinking patterns.
The authors note that while establishing a causal link is not possible from this observational study, the magnitude of the association is alarming given the well-documented harms of both nicotine use and binge drinking on adolescent health. The work underscores the need for integrated prevention efforts that address multiple risk behaviors, as well as continued monitoring of youth substance use trends and more robust research to understand the directional relationship between vaping or smoking and alcohol use in teens.