Young adults' beliefs about modern oral nicotine products: Implications for uptake in nonvapers, dual use with e-cigarettes, and use to reduce/quit vaping

Introduction:
This article examines the beliefs and attitudes of young adults towards modern oral nicotine products (ONPs) and their potential use as a tool to reduce or quit vaping. The study also explores the association between certain e-cigarette and tobacco use characteristics and interest in using ONPs to quit vaping.

Key Points:

* The study surveyed 1,460 young adults aged 21-24 in Southern California and found that 31.8% held positive beliefs about ONPs.
* Positive beliefs about ONPs were more prevalent in past-30-day e-cigarette users than nonusers.
* Among e-cigarette users motivated to quit vaping, 44.4% were interested in using ONPs to reduce or quit vaping, compared to 23.4% interested in using medicinal nicotine gum/lozenges, 17.6% in nicotine patch, and 16.6% in prescription medications.
* Frequent e-cigarette users, higher number of e-cigarette use episodes per day, low self-efficacy in quitting vaping, and low desire to quit vaping were associated with interest in using ONPs to reduce or quit vaping.
* Nicotine concentration used, device type used most often, flavor most used often, vaping duration, and combustible tobacco use in the past 30 days were not associated with interest in using ONPs to reduce or quit vaping.
* The study suggests that appreciable subsets of young adults may hold positive beliefs about ONPs that could promote uptake, particularly e-cigarette users. Some young adult e-cigarette users may also be interested in using ONPs to reduce or quit vaping, particularly frequent vapers with relatively lower self-efficacy and desire to quit vaping.

Main Message:
The study highlights the potential of ONPs as a tool for reducing or quitting vaping among young adults, particularly for frequent e-cigarette users with lower self-efficacy and desire to quit vaping. However, it also emphasizes the need for targeted strategies to promote evidence-based nicotine cessation products to young adults who are interested in quitting vaping or smoking. Regulatory agencies and clinicians should be aware of the positive beliefs about ONPs among young adults and the potential interest in using ONPs to reduce or quit vaping.

Han, D.-H., Cho, J., Harlow, A. F., Tackett, A. P., Vogel, E. A., Wong, M., Barrington-Trimis, J. L., Lerman, C., Unger, J. B., & Leventhal, A. M. (2023). Young adults’ beliefs about modern oral nicotine products: Implications for uptake in nonvapers, dual use with e-cigarettes, and use to reduce/quit vaping. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 31(2), 455–463. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000595