Summary
Introduction:
This text presents the results of a longitudinal study examining the progression to daily tobacco use among experimenters of various tobacco products in the US Population assessment of Tobacco and health Study. The study focuses on youth and young adults aged 12-24 years at wave 1 (2013-2014) and tracks their tobacco use patterns through wave 4 (2017). The summary will cover the study design, key findings, and main message.
Key Points:
* The study uses a nationally representative longitudinal sample of US youth and young adults from the PaTh Study.
* Researchers examine the progression to daily tobacco use among experimenters of 12 tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigarillos, traditional cigars, and others.
* Results indicate that 62% of 12-24-year-olds tried tobacco, with 30.2% trying at least five products by wave 4.
* at wave 4, 12% were daily tobacco users, with 70% being daily cigarette smokers.
* Daily smoking was 20.8% in 25-28-year-olds, whereas daily e-cigarette vaping was 3.3%.
* Compared to single product triers, the risk of progressing to daily cigarette smoking was 15 percentage points higher among those who tried five or more products.
* E-cigarette use increased the risk of later daily cigarette smoking by threefold.
* Daily smoking was 6 percentage points lower for those who experimented after age 18.
Main Message:
The study emphasizes the importance of tobacco control policies, particularly in preventing youth and young adults from experimenting with multiple tobacco products. The recent increase in e-cigarette use may reverse the decline in cigarette smoking among US young adults, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and education on the risks associated with tobacco use.
Citation
Pierce JP, Chen R, Leas EC, et al. Use of E-cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products and Progression to Daily Cigarette Smoking. Pediatrics. 2021;147(2). doi:10.1542/peds.2020-025122
