Summary
Introduction:
This article summarizes a study examining the use of e-cigarette devices, brands, and flavors among adolescents and young adults. The study aimed to identify popular products and flavor types used by youth after the implementation of flavor restrictions, youth access laws, and FDA enforcement priorities, as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Key Points:
* The study surveyed a national sample of 4,351 participants, including 2,167 ever-users of e-cigarettes.
* Participants were asked about their use of specific e-cigarette device types, brands, flavor types, and flavor-enhancers.
* The study found that while pod/cartridge-based e-cigarettes had the highest ever-use, most past 30-day and 7-day users used disposables.
* Mint/menthol was the most used flavor type, followed by fruit and sweet/dessert/candy flavor types.
* Participants reported using add-on e-cigarette flavor-enhancers.
* There were differences in e-cigarette devices and brands used between participants under and over the legal age of sale of tobacco.
Main Message:
The study highlights the continued use of flavored e-cigarettes among adolescents and young adults, despite FDA enforcement priorities and flavor restrictions. The findings suggest that comprehensive regulation of e-cigarette devices and flavors should be enacted and enforced at federal, state, and local levels to reduce youth use. The study also emphasizes the need for further research on the impact of e-cigarette use on public health, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Citation
Gaiha SM, Lempert LK, McKelvey K, Halpern-Felsher B. E-cigarette devices, brands, and flavors attract youth: Informing FDA’s policies and priorities to close critical gaps. Addictive behaviors. 2022;126:107179. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107179
