Cigarette and electronic vapor product use among high school students in Georgia, 2015-2018.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of trends in electronic vapor product (EVP) and cigarette use among high school students in the state of Georgia. The study uses self-reported data from the annual Georgia Student health Survey 2.0 from 2015 to 2018. The study categorizes users into exclusive EVP users, exclusive cigarette users, and dual users of both products, and assesses current use and number of days used.

Key Points:

* The proportion of current exclusive EVP users and dual users increased during 2017-2018, while the proportion of exclusive cigarette users declined from 2015 to 2018.
* The mean number of days of EVP use increased among exclusive EVP and dual users, and the mean number of days of cigarette use increased among dual users during 2017-2018.
* The study suggests that nicotine exposure during adolescence can cause addiction and harm the developing adolescent brain.
* The health consequences of EVP use extend beyond the potential initiation of cigarette use, including exposure to harmful and potentially harmful ingredients.
* among youth, symptoms of dependence are increased in multiple tobacco product users, including dual users of e-cigarettes and cigarettes.
* Use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes are the most common combinations of more than two tobacco products use among high school students.
* The study highlights the importance of continued efforts to reduce all forms of tobacco product use among Georgia high school students.

Main Message:
The study highlights the increasing trend of EVP use among high school students in Georgia, with an increase in the proportion of exclusive EVP users and dual users during 2017-2018. The study also highlights the importance of addressing adolescent nicotine exposure, which can cause addiction and harm the developing adolescent brain. The study emphasizes the need for continued efforts to reduce all forms of tobacco product use among high school students, including evidence-based public health strategies such as smoke-free indoor air policies, restricting access of young people to e-cigarettes in retail settings, and reducing access to flavored tobacco products by young people.

Ingels JB, Thapa K, Shrestha S, Rajbhandari-Thapa J. Cigarette and electronic vapor product use among high school students in Georgia, 2015-2018. Preventive medicine reports. 2020;19:101140. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101140