“Ice” flavoured e-cigarette use among young adults.

Introduction:
This text summarizes a cross-sectional study analyzing data from a cohort of young adults in Los angeles, California, who completed web-based surveys from May to august 2020. The study focuses on the prevalence and correlates of 'ice' flavored e-cigarette use among young adults.

Key Points:

* The study found that 48.8% of current e-cigarette users reported using 'ice' flavors most often.
* Ice flavored e-cigarette use was associated with reporting more past-30-day vaping days and episodes per vaping day compared to menthol/mint and fruit/sweet users.
* Ice flavored users were less likely to use JUUL/cartridge-based rechargeable devices and more likely to use disposable non-cartridge devices than menthol/mint users.
* Ice flavored users had greater odds of past 30-day combustible tobacco use and vaping dependence symptoms than fruit/sweet users.
* The study suggests that young adult use of ice flavored e-cigarettes may be common and positively associated with combustible tobacco use, nicotine vaping frequency and dependence, and use of disposable e-cigarette devices.
* The study's limitations include self-reported measures, the lack of distinction between nicotine-containing and nicotine-free e-cigarettes, small cell sizes, and the absence of nicotine concentration assessment.

Main Message:
The study highlights the prevalence and potential risks associated with 'ice' flavored e-cigarette use among young adults. as 'ice' flavors represent a hybrid of cooling and fruity flavors, it is unclear how they fit into current and future regulatory policies that place differential restrictions across different flavor categories. Further studies are warranted to understand the specific cooling agents and chemical constituents in ice flavored products and their health effects. The evolving regulatory context may impact the use of ice-flavored e-cigarettes, and it is crucial to monitor and regulate these products to protect public health.

Leventhal a, Dai h, Barrington-Trimis J, Sussman S. “Ice” flavoured e-cigarette use among young adults. Tobacco control. 2023;32(1):114-117. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056416