Is susceptibility to E-cigarettes among youth associated with tobacco and other substance use behaviors one year later? Results from the PaTh study.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research study that investigates the relationship between e-cigarette susceptibility and future tobacco and substance use among a nationally representative cohort of youth. The study aims to determine if e-cigarette susceptibility is a risk factor for the initiation of e-cigarette, cigarette, marijuana, and alcohol use one year later.

Key Points:

* The study used data from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort of over 45,000 adults and youth.
* The study sample consisted of 5156 participants who had never used tobacco products, alcohol, or marijuana at Wave 1.
* E-cigarette susceptibility was significantly associated with increased odds of initiating use of e-cigarettes, marijuana, and alcohol in Wave 2.
* Cigarette susceptibility, academic performance, harm perceptions and sensation seeking, and exposure to tobacco use or to advertising were all statistically significantly associated with susceptibility to e-cigarette use in Wave 1.
* Females had higher odds of initiating alcohol and past 30-day cigarette use compared to males.
* african american and hispanic youth had decreased odds of initiating e-cigarette use and past 30-day e-cigarette and cigarette use compared to White youth.
* Youth with highly educated parents had decreased odds of cigarette initiation and past 30-day use and marijuana initiation.

Main Message:
The study found that e-cigarette susceptibility is a significant predictor of future tobacco and substance use among youth. The results suggest that prevention policies and tobacco and substance use prevention programs should target youth who are susceptible to e-cigarettes in order to reduce the current trends in using these products and potentially reduce the use of tobacco and other substances as well. additionally, the study highlights the importance of considering other risk factors, such as academic performance, harm perceptions, and exposure to tobacco use or advertising, when developing prevention strategies.

Nicksic NE, Barnes aJ. Is susceptibility to E-cigarettes among youth associated with tobacco and other substance use behaviors one year later? Results from the PaTh study. Preventive Medicine: an International Journal Devoted to Practice and Theory. 2019;121:109-114. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.02.006