Measuring e-cigarette addiction among adolescents

Introduction:
This text summarizes the results of a longitudinal study on adolescent e-cigarette use over 12 months. The study examines changes in e-cigarette and dual-use frequency, nicotine exposure and dependence, device and e-liquid preferences, and motivators to use and cease use.

Key Points:

* The study followed a cohort of adolescent e-cigarette users over 12 months.
* Most adolescents (80.3%) continued to use e-cigarettes at 12 months, with daily use increasing from 14.5% at baseline to 29.8% at 12-month follow-up.
* E-cigarette dependence, measured with the Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index, also significantly increased over time.
* Cotinine levels, a biomarker of nicotine exposure, significantly increased over time.
* Transitions from single to dual and dual to single nicotine product use were observed in approximately one in three users over the study period.
* Higher nicotine delivering e-cigarette devices (i.e., Juul, mods) became more popular over time, whereas flavor preferences remained stable.
* Reasons for initiating and continuing e-cigarette use included socializing, enjoyment, and flavors, while reasons for quitting included a desire for self-improvement, difficulty maintaining an e-cigarette device, and getting in trouble for vaping at home or school.

Main Message:
The study highlights the persistence of adolescent e-cigarette use over 12 months, with significant increases in frequency of use, nicotine exposure, and dependence. The findings suggest that efforts to reduce adolescent e-cigarette use should include regulatory action addressing kid-friendly flavors and youth access.

Vogel, Erin A, Judith J Prochaska, and Mark L Rubinstein. “Measuring E-Cigarette Addiction among Adolescents.” Tobacco Control, May 11, 2019, tobaccocontrol-2018-054900. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054900.