Depression causes vaping!

In this talk Professor Notley will discuss the latest evidence exploring associations between nicotine use and common mental health conditions, including depression. Complex intersectional relationships between nicotine use in different forms and depression will be explored, with consideration of alternative interpretations of observed associations in epidemiological datasets. Interpretive assumptions will be drawn out, including inappropriate claims of causal relationships between vaping and depression. The pleasure enhancing and beneficial self-soothing effects of using nicotine via different routes of administration, through smoking versus vaping, will be considered to underpin the thesis that habitual nicotine use can serve an important function in individuals lives, and that supporting those who are unable to stop using nicotine to use it in less harmful ways, is a social justice issue.