Summary
Introduction:
This article, published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, focuses on the factors associated with e-cigarette initiation among adolescents who have never used another tobacco product. The study focuses on minority youth, who tend to have a higher prevalence of e-cigarette use.
Key Points:
* The study uses data from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), a nationally representative sample of middle and high school students in the United States.
* The study examines the association between initiation of e-cigarette use and select covariates among minority youth using logistic regression analyses.
* The sample included only those respondents who identified themselves as non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaskan Native, non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or multiple races.
* The main dependent variable was measured using the respondents' answers to the questions: "Which of the following products did you try first?"
* Covariates included perceived harm of e-cigarettes, perceived addictiveness of e-cigarettes, attitudes toward e-cigarette use, exposure to e-cigarette advertising, living with a smoker, grade level, and sex.
* The study found that Hispanic youth had a higher prevalence of being an e-cigarette initiator compared to other minority youth.
* Exposure to e-cigarette advertising, perception of harm, and peer-related attitudes were associated with e-cigarette initiation among minority youth.
Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the factors associated with e-cigarette initiation among adolescents, particularly minority youth. The findings suggest that exposure to e-cigarette advertising, perception of harm, and peer-related attitudes are associated with e-cigarette initiation. These factors should be considered in regulatory measures and prevention efforts to reduce e-cigarette use among youth. The rapid evolution of e-cigarettes and their impact on public health necessitates continued critical appraisal and regulatory action.
Citation
Hammig, Bart, Page Daniel-Dobbs, and Heather Blunt-Vinti. “Electronic Cigarette Initiation among Minority Youth in the United States.” The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 43, no. 3 (May 4, 2017): 306–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2016.1203926.
