Reasons for Electronic Cigarette Experimentation and Discontinuation Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research study on the reasons why young people experiment with and stop using electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). The study was conducted through focus groups and surveys with adolescents and young adults in middle school, high school, and college. The study aimed to identify themes related to e-cigarette experimentation and discontinuation and to explore whether these reasons differed by school level or cigarette smoking status.

Key points:

* The study identified experimentation themes such as curiosity, flavors, family/peer influence, easy access, and perceptions of e-cigarettes as "cool" and as a healthier/better alternative to cigarettes.
* The survey data showed that the top reasons for experimentation were curiosity (54.4%), appealing flavors (43.8%), and peer influences (31.6%).
* The top reasons for discontinuation were health concerns, loss of interest, high cost, bad taste, and view of e-cigarettes as less satisfying than cigarettes.
* Cigarette smokers tried e-cigarettes because of the perceptions that they can be used anywhere and to quit smoking and discontinued because they were not as satisfying as cigarettes.
* School level differences were detected in reasons for experimentation and discontinuation.

Main message:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the reasons why young people experiment with and stop using e-cigarettes in order to inform regulatory efforts. The results suggest that e-cigarette prevention efforts should include limiting e-cigarette flavors, communicating messages emphasizing the health risks of use, and changing social norms surrounding the use of e-cigarettes. The study also highlights the need for further research on the role of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation among youth. It is crucial to develop effective health communication campaigns and regulation efforts to reduce youth appeal and counteract misconceptions regarding e-cigarette use.

Kong, Grace, Meghan E. Morean, Dana A. Cavallo, Deepa R. Camenga, and Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin. “Reasons for Electronic Cigarette Experimentation and Discontinuation Among Adolescents and Young Adults.” Nicotine & Tobacco Research 17, no. 7 (July 2015): 847–54. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu257.