Youth perception of harm and addictiveness of tobacco products: Findings from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (Wave 1)

Introduction:
This article provides an analysis of youth perceptions of the harm and addictiveness of various tobacco products in the United States, using data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. The study aims to understand patterns among non-users and users of tobacco and examine whether perceptions of harm from tobacco products vary among non-users classified by their increasing susceptibility to experimentation. The findings of this study can provide valuable insights for regulatory measures related to tobacco control.

Key Points:

* The study uses data from the PATH Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of adults and youth in the US.
* Harm perceptions of cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, hookah, pipe, and smokeless tobacco were assessed using a combination of single-item and multiple-item indices.
* Perceptions of addictiveness of each product were also evaluated using a single item measure.
* Youth classified as 'committed never user' were at the lowest risk, followed by those classified as 'susceptible', 'ever/lifetime users', and 'youth classified as having 'used in the past 30 days'.
* The study found that cigars, hookah, and e-cigarettes were each perceived as having significantly lower harm than smokeless products.
* Perceptions of addictiveness differed significantly across products, with cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, and hookah rated as less addictive than smokeless tobacco.
* Susceptible youth and those who had ever used each product had lower perceived addictiveness compared to committed never users.

Main Message:
The study highlights the critical role of perceptions of harm and addictiveness in tobacco use among youth. It underscores the need for regulatory measures that address the misperception of harm and addictiveness of various tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes, cigars, and hookah. The findings can inform public health messaging campaigns and clinical communications aimed at preventing tobacco use among youth. Additionally, the study emphasizes the need for continued surveillance of youth perceptions of tobacco products to monitor changes over time and the impact of regulatory measures.

Strong, David R., Karen Messer, Martha White, Yuyan Shi, Madison Noble, David B. Portnoy, Alexander Persoskie, et al. “Youth Perception of Harm and Addictiveness of Tobacco Products: Findings from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (Wave 1).” Addictive Behaviors 92 (May 2019): 128–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.12.005.