Motivations for E-cigarette use and associations with vaping frequency and smoking abstinence among adults who smoke cigarettes in the United States.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a study examining the motivations of adult dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the United States. The study aims to identify sub-groups of participants with similar motivations for e-cigarette use and classify them based on self-reported reasons for using e-cigarettes. The study also examines the association between e-cigarette use sub-groups, frequency of e-cigarette use, and subsequent cigarette smoking abstinence.

Key Points:

* The study used data from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) study, a large national cohort study on tobacco product use.
* The study identified four distinct sub-groups of e-cigarette users among adults who are dual users of combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
* The sub-groups included "Convenience and Social acceptability," "Vaping Enthusiasts," "Experimenters," and "quitting Smoking and harm Reduction."
* The study found that the Convenience and Social acceptability sub-group were less likely than "Vaping Enthusiasts" and "quitting Smoking and harm Reduction" classes to vape daily.
* The study also found that e-cigarette user sub-groups were not associated with cigarette smoking abstinence after one year.
* The study adjusted for potential confounders such as age, sex, race, ethnicity, financial assistance, past 30-day use of other tobacco products, and past 12-month use of prescription cessation aids.
* The study's results suggest that e-cigarette use frequency may be associated with underlying motivations for e-cigarette use.

Main Message:
The study provides valuable insights into the motivations of adult dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the United States. The identification of distinct sub-groups of e-cigarette users can help in developing targeted interventions and policies to reduce cigarette smoking and promote e-cigarette use for harm reduction. The study's findings also suggest that e-cigarette use frequency may be an essential factor in determining the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation, and further research is needed to explore this association. Overall, the study highlights the complexity of e-cigarette use and the need for a nuanced approach to regulation and policy-making.

harlow aF, Cho J, Tackett aP, et al. Motivations for E-cigarette use and associations with vaping frequency and smoking abstinence among adults who smoke cigarettes in the United States. Drug and alcohol dependence. 2022;238:109583. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109583