Flavored Electronic Cigarette Use and Smoking Among Youth

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the relationship between flavored electronic cigarette use and smoking among youth. It highlights the significance of flavored e-cigarettes as a potential gateway for future cigarette use and the impact of e-cigarette flavors on the intention to quit smoking and perception of tobacco's danger among youth. The study design includes a nationally representative sample from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

Key Points:

* The study examines the association between flavored e-cigarette use and intention to initiate cigarettes, quit smoking, and perception of tobacco's danger among US middle and high school students.
* Flavored e-cigarette use among never-smoking youth is associated with higher odds of intention to initiate cigarette use (aOR = 5.7; P < .0001).
* Current youth smokers who report using flavored e-cigarettes have significantly lower intention to quit tobacco use in the next 12 months (aOR = 0.6; P = .006).
* Flavored e-cigarette use is associated with lower odds of perceived harmfulness of tobacco use (aOR = 0.5; P < .0001) compared with not using e-cigarettes.
* The study uses a cross-sectional design, self-reported flavored e-cigarette use, and a check-all-that-apply response for flavored e-cigarette use.
* The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive tobacco control and prevention strategies addressing flavored e-cigarette products to reduce tobacco use among youth.

Main Message:
The study underscores the importance of flavored e-cigarettes as a potential risk factor for smoking initiation and continued tobacco use among youth. The findings highlight the need for regulatory measures to limit the appeal and accessibility of flavored e-cigarettes to protect the health and well-being of young people. Comprehensive tobacco control strategies addressing flavored e-cigarette products are crucial to reduce tobacco use among youth and prevent the normalization of vaping behaviors.

Dai, Hongying, and Jianqiang Hao. “Flavored Electronic Cigarette Use and Smoking Among Youth.” Pediatrics 138, no. 6 (December 1, 2016): e20162513. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2513.