Electronic Cigarettes as an Introductory Tobacco Product Among Eighth and 11th Grade Tobacco Users — Oregon, 2015

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a study examining the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as an introductory tobacco product among eighth and 11th grade students in Oregon who have ever used or currently use any tobacco product and cigarette smokers. The study aims to provide information on the trend of e-cigarette use among youths and its impact on tobacco product initiation.

Key Points:

* The study found that e-cigarettes were the most commonly reported introductory tobacco product among eighth and 11th grade students who had ever used or currently use any tobacco product and cigarette smokers.
* The study used data from the Oregon Healthy Teens Survey, a cross-sectional, school-based, biennial survey of health behaviors administered to Oregon eighth and 11th grade students.
* The survey question regarding the introductory tobacco product used was first asked in 2015, and the response options included cigarettes, e-cigarettes, hookahs, and other tobacco products.
* The study found that e-cigarettes were the most common introductory tobacco product among eighth and 11th grade students who had ever used or currently use any tobacco product and cigarette smokers.
* Among eighth and 11th grade students who were conventional cigarette users, e-cigarettes were the second most common introductory tobacco product among ever and current users.
* The study has limitations, including self-reported data, the inability to establish temporality of e-cigarette and conventional tobacco product use, and the restriction of data collection to eighth and 11th grade students who attend public schools.
* The main message of the study is the importance of proven interventions to prevent all forms of tobacco use, including e-cigarettes, among youths.

Main Message:
The study highlights the need for public health interventions to address e-cigarette use among youths and young adults. These interventions could include smoke-free policies that include e-cigarettes, restrictions on youths’ access to e-cigarettes, pricing strategies, retail licensure, regulation of e-cigarette marketing likely to attract youths, and educational initiatives focused toward youths and young adults. The findings underscore the importance of comprehensive tobacco control programs established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized rules extending its regulatory authority of tobacco products to include e-cigarettes. It is crucial to prevent all forms of tobacco use, including e-cigarettes, among youths to reduce the burden of preventable diseases and deaths caused by tobacco use.

Hines, Jonas Z., Steven C. Fiala, and Katrina Hedberg. “Electronic Cigarettes as an Introductory Tobacco Product Among Eighth and 11th Grade Tobacco Users — Oregon, 2015.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 66, no. 23 (June 16, 2017): 604–6. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6623a2.