Perceptions of the Relative Harm of Cigarettes and E-cigarettes Among U.S. Youth

Abstract

Background Despite progress in reducing youth smoking, adolescents remain highly susceptible to tobacco use. Of concern is whether youth perceive electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as a preferable alternative to conventional cigarettes. Purpose To describe cigarette harm perception patterns among youth based on the frequency and intensity of cigarette smoking, and examine the relative harm perceptions of conventional versus e-cigarettes, using data from a large, nationally representative sample of U.S. youth. Methods Data from the 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey (N=24,658) were analyzed in 2013 to identify patterns of cigarette harm perceptions. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to identify associations between demographic and tobacco use characteristics and cigarette harm perception patterns. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the relationship between cigarette harm perceptions and the perception of e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes for current, ever, and never cigarette smokers. Results The majority of youth (64.2%) perceived the harmfulness of cigarettes as dose-dependent. Approximately one in three students perceived e-cigarettes as less harmful than conventional cigarettes. Regardless of cigarette smoking status, ever users of e-cigarettes and those with “dose-dependent” cigarette harm perceptions consistently were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as less harmful than conventional cigarettes. Conclusions Many youth perceive tobacco use on a continuum of harm. Youth who perceive gradations in harm—both by frequency and intensity of cigarette use and by type of product—may be particularly susceptible to e-cigarette use.

Perceptions of e-Cigarettes and Noncigarette Tobacco Products Among US Youth

“…Conversely, cigarette use was associated with beliefs that noncigarette products were more harmful, underscoring how adolescents perceive whichever product they use as less harmful. Corroborating existing research on adolescent tobacco perceptions, 19,21,34 findings reported here extend 7 .030…”

“…Those who lived with a household member who used these tobacco products were more likely to contend that products were less harmful and addictive, findings previously observed. 19,21,34 Differences by ethnicity and gender also reflect this finding, with adjusted analyses finding that non-Hispanic white and male students, groups with the highest rates of e-cigarette use, 28 were more likely to view e-cigarettes, as well as smokeless tobacco products, as less harmful than cigarettes. Nonetheless, in all subgroups of e-cigarette-naive respondents and in most subgroups of e-cigarette users assessed, perception of relative safety has increased over the past few years, seemingly indicating a global change in youth attitudes toward these products.…”

“…Each year's tally corresponds to ~27 million US youth. Table 1 34.0%) to comment on the relative harm of those products compared with tobacco. Of those holding opinions on the comparative harm of these products, opinions varied markedly by product (Supplemental Table 5).…”

Prevalence and predictors of e-cigarette trial among adolescents in Argentina

“…The correlates of trying e-cigarettes appear generally similar to those reported for cigarettes and can be divided into three mayor domains: sociodemographics (i.e., sex, age, parental education, type of school), personal risk (i.e., sensation seeking, prior cigarette use, other substance use) and network influences (i.e., friend smoking, household smoking and parenting style). Being male, having lower parental support, higher rebelliousness, peer tobacco use, and advertising exposures has been associated with trying an e-cigarette 3,8,[16][17][18][19][20] . Alcohol and other drugs use have also been associated 3,21 .…”

The Effect of Cigarette and Hookah Smoke on Oral Bacterial Growth, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis: An In vitro Study

“…In addition it is the first cause of preventable death with more than 4000 compounds and 40 carcinogens, mainly nicotine and carbon monoxide (6). Despite the known hazards of smoke and various harm-reduction strategies and policies to reduce the rate of smokers (7), the prevalence of smoking is increasing around the world, estimated at 1.5 billion in 2015 (8), which is postulated to be due to underestimating the personal harm of smoke (9). Despite some advertisement on less harmful effects of hookah, it is proven that it is not only similar to cigarettes regarding nicotine exposure, it has greater CO, and smoke exposure (10).…”