Tobacco Product Promotions Remain Ubiquitous and Are Associated with Use and Susceptibility to Use Among Adolescents.

Introduction:
This text discusses a study examining the relationship between exposure to tobacco product promotions and tobacco product use and susceptibility to use among adolescents. The study aims to understand the varied channels through which youth encounter tobacco promotions and how these promotions impact adolescent tobacco use.

Key Points:

* The study surveyed 1003 adolescents (13-17 years old) about their ever and current tobacco smoking and nicotine vaping behaviors, and assessed their exposure to tobacco product promotions across different channels.
* The study found that most adolescents had seen cigarette (91%) and nicotine vaping (80%) product promotions in the past 30 days, with notable differences in exposure by channel. Traditional media predominated for cigarettes, while social media and email were more common for e-cigarettes.
* Greater exposure to tobacco product promotions was significantly associated with ever and current smoking and vaping, and among never-users, susceptibility to vaping.
* Family/peer use and attitudes were also significant correlates of adolescent tobacco use, suggesting that peers and family may reflect indirect channels of tobacco marketing.

Main Message:
The study highlights the continued prevalence of tobacco product promotions and their significant association with adolescent tobacco use and susceptibility to use. The findings support stricter regulatory restrictions on marketing of tobacco products in media channels accessed by youth, as well as the need to consider the indirect influences of peers and family in tobacco control efforts. The tobacco industry's continued denial of marketing to youth, despite evidence to the contrary, underscores the need for strong regulations and enforcement to protect adolescents from tobacco promotions.

Fielding-Singh P, Epperson AE, Prochaska JJ. Tobacco Product Promotions Remain Ubiquitous and Are Associated with Use and Susceptibility to Use Among Adolescents. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2021;23(2):397-401. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntaa136