Adolescent Males' Awareness of and Willingness to Try Electronic Cigarettes

Introduction:
This text summarizes a study examining adolescent males' awareness of and willingness to try electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), a new type of nicotine delivery device. The study aims to understand the attitudes and behaviors of this at-risk group, as e-cigarettes may serve as a gateway to smoking for nonsmoking adolescents. The study's findings can inform regulatory bodies and health professionals working with adolescents about the growing popularity of e-cigarettes.

Key Points:

* The study used a national sample of 11-19 year old males (n=228) to assess awareness of and willingness to try e-cigarettes.
* Only two participants had previously tried e-cigarettes, but most (67%) had heard of them. Awareness was higher among older and non-Hispanic adolescents.
* Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) participants were willing to try either a plain or flavored e-cigarette, with no difference in willingness between plain and flavored varieties. Smokers were more willing to try any e-cigarette than nonsmokers (74% vs. 13%).
* Nonsmokers who had more negative beliefs about the typical smoker were less willing to try e-cigarettes.
* The study suggests that campaigns promoting negative images of smokers or FDA bans on sales to youth may help deter e-cigarette use.

Main Message:
The widespread awareness and substantial willingness to try e-cigarettes among adolescent males highlight the importance of regulatory interventions. The FDA should consider implementing a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and closely monitor advertisements, particularly those for flavored e-cigarettes, to ensure they do not target youth. As e-cigarette research continues, it will be crucial to track the number of youth who initiate e-cigarette use as a precursor to smoking. Ultimately, the findings emphasize the need for regulatory bodies and health professionals to monitor and address the use of e-cigarettes among adolescents to prevent potential gateway effects and nicotine dependence.

Pepper, Jessica K., Paul L. Reiter, Annie-Laurie McRee, Linda D. Cameron, Melissa B. Gilkey, and Noel T. Brewer. “Adolescent Males’ Awareness of and Willingness to Try Electronic Cigarettes.” Journal of Adolescent Health 52, no. 2 (February 2013): 144–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.09.014.