Vape shop and consumer activity during COVID-19 non-essential business closures in the USA

Berg, Carla J.; Callanan, Rachel A.; Johnson, Trent O; Schliecher, Nina; Sussman, Steve; Wagener, Theodore L.; Meaney, Mark; Henriksen, Lisa

doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056171

Cited by 35 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…12,15 Prior studies have found that although some e-cigarette users had concerns about product access during the COVID-19 pandemic, many were still able to obtain the products either through stockpiling of products, online purchasing, or from their usual channels either through vape shop non-compliance with or circumventing of business closure orders. [16][17][18] In the present study, factors associated with various forms of stress-total stress, worry about financial problems, and increased working hours-were associated with increased cigarette smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic. A study of current smokers in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic also found an association between psychosocial and mental health factors and changes in cigarette consumption.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Smoking and E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Kalkhoran

Levy

Rigotti

2022

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

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Introduction With concerns about tobacco use being a risk factor for severe disease from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), understanding nicotine and tobacco use patterns is important for preventive efforts. This study aims to understand changes in combustible cigarette and e-cigarette use among U.S. adults. Methods In August 2020, a cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of adults aged ≥18 years in the National Opinion Research Center's AmeriSpeak Panel who reported past 6–month use of combustible cigarettes or e-cigarettes was conducted. Multivariable logistic regression assessed factors associated with increased product use and quit attempts since hearing about COVID-19. Results A total of 1,024 past 6–month cigarette smokers/e-cigarette users were surveyed. Among cigarette smokers, 45% reported no change in cigarette smoking and 33% increased cigarette smoking since hearing about COVID-19. Higher stress was associated with increased cigarette smoking. Among e-cigarette users, 41% reported no change in and 23% reported increasing e-cigarette use. Twenty-six percent of cigarette smokers and 41% of e-cigarette users tried to quit because of COVID-19. Higher perceived risk of COVID-19 was associated with attempts to quit combustible cigarettes (AOR=2.37, 95% CI=1.59, 3.55) and e-cigarettes (AOR=3.14, 95% CI=1.73, 5.70). Conclusions Cigarette and e-cigarette use patterns varied in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most cigarette smokers and e-cigarette users perceived product use as increasing COVID-19-related health risks, and this was associated with attempts to quit. Some cigarette smokers, especially those reporting higher stress, increased product use. Proactive provision of cessation support to smokers and e-cigarette users may help mitigate stress-related increases in product use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Smoking and E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Kalkhoran

Levy

Rigotti

2022

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

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“…In the context of nicotine dependence, rational choice is further impeded by the tobacco-saturated media and retail environments in which people live. Even during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period, many tobacco specialty shops remained open, some in direct opposition of state orders mandating them to close [ 35 ]. Prior criticisms of the HBM have noted the weak effects of tobacco prevention interventions that target rational decision-making processes, as well as the potential for the misuse of such rational choice theories by the tobacco industry in litigation, namely to blame tobacco’s harms on individuals who use it [ 34 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived Susceptibility to and Seriousness of COVID-19: Associations of Risk Perceptions with Changes in Smoking Behavior

Vogel

Henriksen

Schleicher

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have documented increased and decreased cigarette smoking among adults. Individual differences in the perceived susceptibility and seriousness of the virus, for people who smoke in general and for oneself personally, may relate to changes in smoking. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical framework, we examined associations with self-reported increasing and decreasing smoking a lot during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period. Adults in 30 large U.S. cities who smoked cigarettes daily completed an online survey between 14 July and 30 November 2020. The analytic sample (N = 2768) was 54.0% male and 68.3% white with 23.7% reporting increasing and 11.3% decreasing smoking (6% reported both). Younger age, a diagnosis of COVID-19, and greater pandemic-related stress were associated with greater odds of both increased and decreased smoking. Increased smoking also was associated with heavier nicotine dependence, greater desire to quit, and greater perceived susceptibility and lower perceived seriousness of COVID-19 for people who smoke, while pandemic-related job-loss, lower nicotine dependence, and greater self-efficacy were associated with decreased smoking. Among respondents who had not contracted COVID-19 (n = 2418), correlates were similar with the addition of greater perceived personal susceptibility to COVID-19 associated with both increased and decreased smoking, while greater perceived personal seriousness of COVID-19 was associated with increased smoking. Findings for risk perceptions were largely in directions that contradict the HBM. Circumstances surrounding behavior change during the pandemic are complex and may be especially complex for nicotine addiction.

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“…Our finding that more participants who ever vaped cannabis reported reducing or quitting vaping generally than increasing cannabis vaping is consistent with prior research on the pandemic’s impact on vaping and/or e-cigarette use in this population ( Chaffee et al, 2021 , Dumas et al, 2020 , Gaiha et al, 2020 , Kreslake et al, 2021 , Sokolovsky et al, 2021 , Tattan‐Birch et al, 2021 ). A reduction in cannabis vaping during the pandemic could be due to concerns of susceptibility to COVID-19, disruptions in access to cannabis products, or fewer social engagements with peers ( Berg et al, 202 0 Dumas et al, 2020 , Kreslake et al, 2021 , Tattan‐Birch et al, 2021 ). However, not all young people were deterred from vaping cannabis since most ever-cannabis vapers reported no change and a subgroup reported an increase.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-reported changes in cannabis vaping among US adolescents and young adults early in the COVID-19 pandemic

Nguyen

Gaiha

Halpern‐Felsher

2021

Preventive Medicine Reports

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Cannabis vaping may increase susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and related outcomes; however, little is known about the impact of the pandemic on cannabis vaping among US young populations. This study examined self-reported changes in cannabis vaping since the pandemic and factors associated with changes. A national, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 4,351 US adolescents and young adults (13–24 years old) in May 2020. Of those, 1,553 participants who reported ever vaping cannabis were included in the analytic sample. Binary outcome was self-reported increase in cannabis vaping (more hours/times of vaping in a day) vs. no change/quitting/reducing/switching. Weighted logistic regression examined associations between independent variables (i.e., risk perceptions of vaping, cannabis dependence, and stress/anxiety) and the outcome, controlling for sociodemographic factors. Overall, 6.8% reported increasing cannabis vaping since the pandemic, 37.0% quitting or reducing vaping in general, and 42.3% no change. Participants were more likely to report increased cannabis vaping if they perceived “Vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes” (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 3.66; 95%CI = 1.43–9.38), reported more dependence on cannabis vaping (AOR = 1.59; 95%CI = 1.11–2.27), and were female (AOR = 2.80; 95%CI = 1.23–6.36). Those perceiving “Vaping cannabis can cause lung injuries” were less likely to increase cannabis vaping (AOR = 0.37; 95%CI = 0.18–0.76). Findings indicate that adolescent and young adult ever-cannabis vapers were more likely to report decreasing vaping generally than increasing cannabis vaping and most did not change use during the early pandemic. Educational campaigns should address potential health risks of cannabis vaping and focus on lung health to reduce use among young people during and following the pandemic.

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Vape shop and consumer activity during COVID-19 non-essential business closures in the USA

Cited by 35 publications

References 14 publications

Smoking and E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Smoking and E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Perceived Susceptibility to and Seriousness of COVID-19: Associations of Risk Perceptions with Changes in Smoking Behavior

Self-reported changes in cannabis vaping among US adolescents and young adults early in the COVID-19 pandemic

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