The national prevalence of adolescent nicotine use in 2017: Estimates taking into account student reports of substances vaped

Introduction:
This text discusses a study that examines the prevalence of nicotine use among adolescents and the impact of vaping on these statistics. The study takes into account adolescent reports of the substances they are vaping, and presents the first nationally-representative estimates of adolescent nicotine use that consider the impact of the newly-emerged group of adolescents who report vaping only non-nicotine substances.

Key Points:

* The study uses data from the 2017 Monitoring the Future (MTF) study, a nationally representative cross-sectional sample of 12th grade students in the coterminous U.S.
* The study asks whether estimated adolescent nicotine use diminishes when omitting from the numerator the group of youth who report both vaping only non-nicotine e-liquids and also report no use of any tobacco products.
* The study finds that the estimated prevalence of nicotine use is significantly lower when student reports of the substances they vaped are taken into account.
* The study compares tobacco-related attitudes and behaviors for non-nicotine users who vape as compared to those who do not vape, as well as to nicotine users.
* The study finds that among non-nicotine users, those who vape are similar to those who do not on most tobacco-related attitudes and behaviors considered.
* The study finds that youth who use nicotine stand out from the two groups of non-nicotine users on most outcomes considered.
* The study concludes that the practice of treating all vaping as indicative of nicotine use does not have a major impact on current, national estimates of adolescent nicotine prevalence.

Main Message:
The main message of this study is that accurately estimating adolescent nicotine use is critical for understanding the impact of vaping on adolescent health. By taking into account student reports of the substances they are vaping, this study presents more accurate estimates of adolescent nicotine use and highlights the importance of considering the diversity of substances that adolescents may be vaping. The study also underscores the need for strict regulation and labelling of e-liquids, as well as educational outreach to adolescents, to prevent unknowing recruits to nicotine use.

Miech, Richard, Lloyd D. Johnston, Patrick M. O’Malley, and Yvonne M. Terry-McElrath. “The National Prevalence of Adolescent Nicotine Use in 2017: Estimates Taking into Account Student Reports of Substances Vaped.” Addictive Behaviors Reports 9 (June 2019): 100159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2019.100159.