E-cigarettes are frequently marketed as an easy alternative to smoking, and a helpful way to quit. However, they may not actually be helping people quit, according to a study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

Researchers on the study surveyed 5,717 adults in the United States in 2014. The adults were questioned on their knowledge of e-cigarettes, their use of this product or other tobacco products and their reasons for using such products. There were 585 current smokers in the study and 144 former smokers.

Over 55 percent of the current smokers found the use of e-cigarettes unsatisfying and stopped using them and continued to smoke regular cigarettes. Forty percent of these smokers continued dual use of both regular and e-cigarettes. The dual users were hoping to cut down and attempt to get healthy. Of the 144 former regular cigarette smokers, the study found that 30 percent were using e-cigarettes as an alternative.

Although some were successfully off regular cigarettes, they were still ingesting nicotine and tobacco products through e-cigarette use. Any type of tobacco or nicotine use is still dangerous and unhealthy.