Associations between living in localities with e-cigarette sales restrictions and e-cigarette use change among young adults in Los Angeles County.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a study examining the relationship between living in localities with various e-cigarette sales restrictions (ESRs) and changes in e-cigarette use among young adults in Los Angeles County. The study uses data from a cohort of young adults who completed two waves of surveys and considers the impact of ESRs on e-cigarette use behavior change, taking into account participants' baseline sociodemographic characteristics and tobacco use history.

Key Points:

* The study used data from a cohort of young adults (age range: 18-21 years) living in Los Angeles County, California.
* The study identified and categorized ESRs implemented in Los Angeles County between June 2019 and May 2020, and merged the participants' residential addresses with the policy dataset.
* The analysis included two samples: current e-cigarette users at baseline (n=435) and non-current e-cigarette users at baseline (n=1665).
* The study found that participants who were non-Hispanic, had higher socioeconomic statuses, and were currently using e-cigarettes were more likely to live in ESR localities.
* The associations between living in ESR localities and e-cigarette use behavior change may depend on young adults' cigarette smoking history.
* There was no significant association between living in ESR localities and e-cigarette use behavior change among non-current e-cigarette users.
* The study suggests that research examining the impact of local ESRs should consider community characteristics related to sociodemographic backgrounds and tobacco-using norms during the pre-policy implementation period.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of considering community characteristics and individuals' tobacco use histories when examining the potential impact of e-cigarette sales restrictions. The findings suggest that living in localities with ESRs may not be associated with reduced e-cigarette use at follow-up among e-cigarette users or non-users. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the local context, including tobacco control policies and enforcement efforts, is necessary for evaluating the effectiveness of ESRs in reducing e-cigarette use among young adults.

Chen-Sankey J, Cruz-Cano R, Pakdaman S, et al. Associations between living in localities with e-cigarette sales restrictions and e-cigarette use change among young adults in Los Angeles County. Tobacco control. 2022;31:s187-s196. doi:10.1136/tc-2022-057478