Prevalence and correlates of electronic-cigarette use in young adults: Findings from three studies over five years

Abstract

Background We aimed to examine prevalence and correlates of past-month electronic cigarette (“e-cigarette”) use and use of e-cigarettes to aid a cessation attempt in three samples of young adult smokers recruited online in 2009–2010 (Study 1), 2010–2011 (Study 2), and 2013 (Study 3). Methods Participants were young adults aged 18 to 25 who smoked at least one cigarette in the previous month (Study 1, N=1987 and Study 2, N=570) or smoked 3 or more days each week and used Facebook 4 or more days per week (Study 3, N=79). We examined both past-month e-cigarette use and ever use of e-cigarettes to quit conventional cigarettes. Results Prevalence of past-month use of e-cigarettes was higher in each subsequent study: Study 1 (6%), Study 2 (19%), Study 3 (41%). In multivariate analyses, significant correlates of past-month e-cigarette use were identified for Study 1 (male sex OR=2.1, p=.03; past-year quit attempt OR=1.6, p=.03) and Study 2 (male sex, OR=1.7, p=.03; younger age OR=0.88, p=.05), but not Study 3. In multivariate analyses, significant correlates of ever use of e-cigarette to quit conventional cigarettes were identified for Study 1 (education, OR=1.2, p=.02; smoking within 30 minutes of waking, OR=2.8, p=.02; past year quit attempt OR=4.1, p=.02), and Study 3 (desire to quit smoking, OR=1.3, p=.02), but not Study 2. Conclusions E-cigarette use is increasingly common among young adults, particularly men. E-cigarette use for quitting conventional cigarettes appears more common among those more nicotine dependent and interested in quitting.

Usual Modes of Marijuana Consumption Among High School Students in Colorado

“…By contrast, girls and Hispanic and Multiracial youth were more likely to report smoking and less likely to report vaporizing as their usual mode of consumption. These findings are consistent with existing research among adults showing that men are more likely than women to use vaporizers (Ramo et al, 2015;Schauer et al, 2016). In addition, students who (-) indicates that there were too few subjects to report estimates.…”

Use and Perceived Risk of Electronic Cigarettes Among North Carolina Middle and High School Students

“…Indeed, the risk of adolescent e-cigarette use has been previously correlated with parental use of e-cigarettes and tobacco products [19]. Given the current promotion of e-cigarettes as a novel alternative to cigarettes and perhaps as an aid for smoking cessation [32], it is not surprising that a general perception exists that e-cigarettes may be less harmful than combustible cigarettes [7]. In fact, nearly 60% of current youth combustible cigarette smokers surveyed in the NCYTS reported that they were attempting to quit smoking [24].…”

Electronic cigarette use: comparing smokers, vapers, and dual users on characteristics and motivational factors

“…Hence, e-cigarettes could be advertised, no age requirements were set in purchasing the product and the product could be sold in every store. E-cigarettes are mostly used by former and current conventional smokers [7][8][9][10][11][12] . Commonly reported reasons for using e-cigarettes (also known as vaping) are to quit or reduce smoking regular cigarettes, to reduce feelings of craving, and to reduce health risks caused by smoking 4,7,10,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19] .…”

“…Several studies suggest that e-cigarettes may be effective to reduce harm and to support smoking cessation 14,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] . In contrast, it is hypothesized that dual users (e-cigarette users who continue smoking conventional cigarettes) are exposed to higher levels of nicotine, become more nicotine dependent, and reduce the chance of cessation 11 . Further, e-cigarette use may lead to normalization of e-cigarette use and renormalization of smoking 31 .…”