Ever Use of Nicotine and Nonnicotine Electronic Cigarettes Among High School Students in Ontario, Canada

Introduction:
This text is a summary of an academic study investigating the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among high school students in Ontario, Canada. The study focuses on ever use of nicotine and nonnicotine e-cigarettes and examines the demographic and behavioral correlates of e-cigarette use. The study aims to provide information on the prevalence of e-cigarette use and the characteristics of users in order to guide potential public health policies.

Key Points:

* The study is based on data from the 2013 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, a province-wide school-based survey.
* Fifteen percent of high school students reported using e-cigarettes in their lifetime, with most students reporting use of e-cigarettes without nicotine (72%).
* Male, White/Caucasian, and rural students, as well as those with a history of using tobacco cigarettes, were at greater odds of e-cigarette use.
* Seven percent of students who had never smoked a tobacco cigarette in their lifetime reported using an e-cigarette, and five percent of those who had ever used an e-cigarette had never smoked a tobacco cigarette.
* The study highlights the need for greater knowledge of the contents of both nicotine and nonnicotine e-cigarettes to better guide public health policies.

Main Message:
The study reveals that e-cigarette use among high school students in Ontario, Canada is relatively common, with a significant proportion of students reporting use of e-cigarettes without nicotine. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the contents and potential health impacts of both nicotine and nonnicotine e-cigarettes in order to inform public health policies and prevent potential harm to young people. The study suggests that e-cigarettes may serve as a gateway to tobacco use among youth, and therefore further research is needed to fully understand the potential implications of e-cigarette use.

Hamilton, Hayley A., Roberta Ferrence, Angela Boak, Robert Schwartz, Robert E. Mann, Shawn O’Connor, and Edward M. Adlaf. “Ever Use of Nicotine and Nonnicotine Electronic Cigarettes Among High School Students in Ontario, Canada.” Nicotine & Tobacco Research 17, no. 10 (October 2015): 1212–18. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu234.