Youth vaping beliefs and behaviors: evidence from New York.

Introduction:
This text summarizes a research study on the beliefs and behaviors of youth vapers in New York in 2017 and 2019. The study examines changes in vaping frequency, nicotine content of vaping products used, risk perceptions of vaping, and openness to vaping cannabis. The study aims to inform tobacco control strategies and public health policy.

Key Points:

* The proportion of youth vapers who were frequent users and high-nicotine users increased from 2017 to 2019.
* JUUL was the most popular brand in both years, and reported JUUL use among youth vapers increased from 2017 to 2019.
* Nicotine was the most commonly reported reason for vaping in 2019, and 15.2% reported vaping because "it's hard to stop."
* There was a significant increase in the perceived likelihood of harm from vaping from 2017 to 2019, but respondents who used other tobacco products in addition to vaping products were significantly less likely to report a high perceived likelihood of harm from vaping in 2019.
* Perceived harm of vaping increased across flavor categories from 2017 to 2019, and averaged across all three flavors, the mean perceived harm from using flavored vaping products increased from 5.1 to 6.5.
* In 2019, 82.0% of respondents had heard of vaping cannabis, and 60.6% of respondents reported having tried it.
* The study found that youth vaping product users in 2019 were more aware that vaping may be harmful to their health than those in 2017, but youth believe that menthol/mint and sweet-flavored vaping products are less harmful than tobacco-flavored products.

Main Message:
The study provides important information about the shifting beliefs and behaviors of youth vapers in New York. The findings suggest that youth are knowingly increasing their vaping intensity despite understanding the possible risks of doing so. The use of high-nicotine vaping products was more likely among frequent vapers than those who vaped fewer than 20 days during the past month, which may be linked to greater addiction. The study also highlights the high rates of youth vaping cannabis and openness to vaping cannabis, which raises concerns about short- and long-term health risks. The study's results emphasize the need for tobacco control efforts to reduce youth vaping, including public health policy and youth vaping prevention and cessation programs.

Coats EM, Farrelly MC, Henes AL, Pikowski JM, Brown EM, Nonnemaker JM. Youth vaping beliefs and behaviors: evidence from New York. Health education research. 2022;37(4):254-265. doi:10.1093/her/cyac014