Summary
Introduction:
This text summarizes a research study examining the reasons college students use JUUL e-cigarettes and the association between these reasons and social and behavioral factors. The study identifies four categories of reasons for using JUUL: self-help, social, experience, and substance use/addiction.
Key Points:
* The study was a cross-sectional survey of undergraduate students at a large southwestern university who owned JUUL and used it weekly.
* Four categories of reasons for using JUUL emerged: self-help (48.4%), social (30.4%), experience (42.8%), and substance use/addiction (42.3%).
* Daily JUUL users were more likely to use JUUL for self-help reasons, while those who had never tried a cigarette were twice as likely to use JUUL for social reasons.
* Males had higher odds of using JUUL for the experience, and JUUL and other e-cigarettes users were more likely to use JUUL due to substance use/addiction.
* The study found that JUUL users report unique reasons for use, such as addiction, not previously reported for older models of e-cigarette devices.
Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the reasons why college students use JUUL, as it can help in developing treatment approaches for nicotine addiction. The findings suggest that JUUL use may decrease risk perceptions about other tobacco products, leading to increases in their use. Therefore, JUULs may cause more harm than harm reduction. additionally, the study emphasizes the need for more research on nicotine addiction among young audiences, particularly those under 21, and the risks and effectiveness of cessation methods for them.
Citation
Newcombe KV, Dobbs PD, Oehlers JS, Dunlap CM, Cheney MK. College Students’ Reasons for Using JUULs. american journal of health promotion : aJhP. 2021;35(6):835-840. doi:10.1177/0890117121992292
