Summary
Introduction:
This text discusses a study examining the relationship between sleep deprivation and adolescent susceptibility to vaping in the United States. The study uses data from the Vaping attitudes Youth Perspectives Survey (VaYPS) to explore cross-sectional associations between self-reported average sleep duration and self-reported likelihood of trying electronic nicotine devices (ENDS) in the future.
Key Points:
* The study found that adolescents who reported getting less than six hours of sleep per night were associated with greater odds of reporting any likelihood to try a vape in the next 30 days even when controlling for demographics and potential confounders.
* Previous research has shown that nicotine has a negative overall effect on sleep, but this study is the first to explore whether sleep deprivation may contribute to adolescents' initiation of ENDS use.
* The study controlled for potential confounders such as risk-taking, exposure to peer use, perceived enforcement of parental rules, and school rules against vaping.
* The majority of ENDS contain nicotine, and higher doses of nicotine are related to higher likelihoods of experiencing addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
* Previous studies have found that nicotine use negatively affects sleep, but this study suggests that lack of sleep may also affect the likelihood that someone initiates ENDS use in the first place.
* The study found that former ENDS users were likely to experience sleep deprivation, challenging previous ideas that stimulation or addiction withdrawal are the key mechanisms by which nicotine use relates to sleep deprivation.
* The study did not find significant differences in sleep behaviors between adolescents who have never used ENDS but are susceptible to future use and those not susceptible.
Main Message:
The study suggests that sleep deprivation is associated with adolescent susceptibility to initiating ENDS use, highlighting the importance of addressing sleep deprivation as a potential risk factor for adolescent vaping. The study's findings have important implications for public health efforts to prevent adolescent vaping and promote healthy sleep habits. Further research is needed to better understand the causality of this association and to develop effective interventions to address sleep deprivation and reduce adolescent vaping.
Citation
holtz KD, Simkus aa, Twombly EC, Fleming ML, Wanty NI. Sleep deprivation and adolescent susceptibility to vaping in the United States. Preventive medicine reports. 2022;26:101756. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101756
