Single, Dual, and Poly Use of Flavored Tobacco Products Among Youths

Introduction:
This text is a research article that discusses the patterns of flavored tobacco product use among youths in the United States. The study uses data from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) to analyze the single, dual, and poly use patterns of 8 flavored tobacco products among middle school and high school students. The article also examines the factors associated with flavored tobacco product use among youths.

Key Points:

* The study found that the proportion of current use of flavored products was higher among high school students compared with middle school students.
* Among single-flavored-product users, e-cigarettes, hookahs, and menthol cigarettes were the most popular tobacco products.
* Exclusive use of flavored e-cigarettes was 18.3% among middle school students and 15.4% among high school students.
* Household tobacco use patterns, perceptions of harm associated with tobacco use, and exposure to tobacco advertisements were associated with youth tobacco product use.
* Most (77%) of poly flavored-product uses included e-cigarettes.
* E-cigarettes are quickly gaining popularity among youths and dual use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products could increase risk of addiction to nicotine in this vulnerable population.
* Youths with more frequent exposure to tobacco advertisements in newspapers/magazines and stores were more likely to be flavored tobacco users.

Main Message:
The study highlights the proliferation of dual and poly use of flavored tobacco products among youths, with flavored e-cigarettes as the most common product used. The findings suggest that comprehensive tobacco control policies and prevention strategies, including regulation of marketing, sales, and distribution of flavored tobacco products, smoke-free house rules, and education on harms of all tobacco use, are warranted to reduce flavored tobacco product use among youths.

Dai, Hongying. “Single, Dual, and Poly Use of Flavored Tobacco Products Among Youths.” Preventing Chronic Disease 15 (June 28, 2018): 170389. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd15.170389.