Changes in Availability of ENDS: 2019-2020, U.S.

Introduction: This article examines changes in the availability of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) in the U.S. retail market during 2019 and 2020. The study uses a metric derived from retail scanner data to analyze the number of unique ENDS products offered for sale. The authors discuss public health events, manufacturer changes, and regulatory actions that may correspond with the timing of estimated changes in ENDS availability overall, by subproduct, and by flavor category within subproduct.

Key Points:

* The study analyzed 105 weeks of retail ENDS scanner data from NielsenIQ for the total U.S. across various retail outlets.
* Changes in availability were categorized and assessed overall and separately for prefilled ENDS cartridges, disposable ENDS, bottles of e-liquid, and rechargeable ENDS.
* Flavors were categorized as tobacco flavored, menthol flavored, mint flavored, other flavored, undetermined flavored, or missing flavored.
* The outcome metric was availability, defined as the number of unique UPCs available each week.
* Regression analysis was conducted using Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software to detect changes in the slope of each outcome in 2019 and 2020.
* The weekly count of available unique ENDS UPCs was analyzed overall and by subproduct between January 2019 and December 2020.
* Weekly availability of prefilled cartridges and disposables by flavor category was also analyzed.

Main Message: The study found that ENDS availability increased during 2019 through 2020, led by a rise in flavored disposables. Multiple slope changes in ENDS availability occurred, many coinciding with tobacco marketplace events. The slope of ENDS explicitly prioritized for federal enforcement notably decreased in early 2020, and soon thereafter, the slope of ENDS not explicitly prioritized for enforcement notably increased, suggesting an association with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforcement guidance. The study highlights the importance of monitoring changes in ENDS availability and the impact of regulatory actions on the marketplace.

Gammon DG, Rogers T, Coats EM, et al. Changes in Availability of ENDS: 2019-2020, U.S. American journal of preventive medicine. 2022;63(6):1017-1025. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2022.07.006