Characteristics and Patterns of Cigarette Smoking and Vaping By Past-Year Smokers Who Reported Using Electronic Nicotine Delivery System to Help Quit Smoking in the Past Year: Findings From the 2018-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of data from the 2018-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) to describe demographic characteristics and electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use patterns among current ENDS users who completely stopped smoking using ENDS in the past year, current dual users of cigarettes and ENDS who had made past-year smoking quit attempt using ENDS, and current dual users who did not report making a past-year quit attempt. The study aims to inform policy actions concerning ENDS products.

Key Points:

* The study uses data from the 2018-2019 TUS-CPS, a nationally representative survey of US adults.
* The analysis focuses on ENDS users who completely stopped smoking using ENDS in the past year, dual users who reported using ENDS to help them quit smoking in the past year, and dual users who did not report making a past-year quit attempt.
* The study found that switchers (those who completely stopped smoking using ENDS in the past year) were more likely to report exclusively using menthol/mint-flavored ENDS and using ENDS daily but less likely to report exclusively using tobacco-flavored ENDS compared to dual users who tried to quit by switching to ENDS.
* The study also found that frequent ENDS use is associated with increased odds of switching.
* The study did not examine the characteristics of those who attempted to quit using NRT but found that approximately 10% of switchers reported using other tobacco products (non-cigarettes tobacco/ENDS) at the time of the survey.
* The study has some limitations, including the cross-sectional nature of the data, recall bias, and the generalizability of results to older adults.
* The study concludes that ENDS users who quit smoking in the past year and reported trying to quit by switching to ENDS were more likely to use menthol/mint flavors exclusively and use ENDS daily compared to dual users who made a quit attempt by trying to switch to ENDS.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the patterns of ENDS use in former and current smokers who report trying to switch to ENDS to quit smoking. The results can inform policy actions concerning ENDS products, particularly in light of the recent government action on flavor use profiles. Longer-term prospective data may better clarify the role of ENDS in smoking quit attempts and cessation.

Chang JT, Mayer M, Jackson RA, et al. Characteristics and Patterns of Cigarette Smoking and Vaping By Past-Year Smokers Who Reported Using Electronic Nicotine Delivery System to Help Quit Smoking in the Past Year: Findings From the 2018-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2023;25(3):596-601. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntac199