JUUL electronic cigarette use patterns, other tobacco product use, and reasons for use among ever users: Results from a convenience sample

Introduction: This text provides an summary of a study examining the use patterns and reasons for initiation of JUUL, a popular e-cigarette brand, among a convenience sample of U.S. adults. The study collected data through an online survey on Amazon Mechanical Turk and asked participants about their frequency and quantity of JUUL use, reasons for use, flavor preferences, and use of other tobacco products.

Key Points:

* The study found that 39.5% of users were daily or nondaily users, indicating high uptake among triers.
* Of current JUUL users, only 26% reported current exclusive use of JUUL.
* Almost 50% reported current use of JUUL and cigarettes.
* In the overall sample, 37% were former smokers.
* The top reasons for use centered on friends' use and curiosity of the product.
* Daily users reported using an average of 10 pods per month and engaging in 4-9 separate vaping sessions per day.
* The average quantity of JUUL pod use was low in the overall sample (4 pods per month).
* Approximately 26% of current JUUL users reported current exclusive JUUL use, while 56% reported using JUUL and another e-cigarette.

Main Message: The study highlights the high uptake and prevalence of JUUL use among U.S. adults, with a significant proportion of users also reporting use of cigarettes and other tobacco products. The reasons for use primarily revolve around friends' use and curiosity, suggesting the potential influence of social norms and peer pressure in JUUL use. The study also notes the limited puffing patterns of JUUL users compared to earlier generation e-cigarettes, which may result in decreased exposure to potentially harmful non-nicotine e-liquid constituents. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and assess the potential health implications of JUUL use.

Leavens, Eleanor L.S., Elise M. Stevens, Emma I. Brett, Emily T. Hébert, Andrea C. Villanti, Jennifer L. Pearson, and Theodore L. Wagener. “JUUL Electronic Cigarette Use Patterns, Other Tobacco Product Use, and Reasons for Use among Ever Users: Results from a Convenience Sample.” Addictive Behaviors 95 (August 2019): 178–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.02.011.