Waterpipe use among high school students in Ontario: Demographic and substance use correlates

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, H. A., Ferrence, R., Boak, A., O'Connor, S., Mann, R. E., Schwartz, R., & Adlaf, E. M. (2015). Waterpipe use among high school students in Ontario: Demographic and substance use correlates. Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique, 106(3), e121–e126.