Prevalence and Reasons for Use of Flavored Cigars and ENDS among US Youth and adults: Estimates from Wave 4 of the PaTh Study, 2016-2017.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the use of flavored tobacco products, specifically electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and cigars, among US youth and adults. The study uses data from Wave 4 of the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) Study, conducted between December 2016 and early January 2018. The study estimates the prevalence of ever and current cigar type and ENDS use, as well as flavored cigar and ENDS use and flavors as a reason for use.

Key Points:

* The study finds that approximately half of young adults reported having ever used an ENDS product, with 83.7% reporting that their first ENDS product was flavored.
* Flavor use was particularly high among current ENDS users, with 97.0% of youth, 96.8% of young adults, and 81.2% of adults reporting that they used flavored products.
* Cigarillo was the most commonly used type of cigar among youth and young adults.
* Flavor use was highest among current cigarillo and filtered cigar users, with close to half of current users reporting flavor use across age groups.
* Most current ENDS users reported that flavors were a reason for use, from 71.0% to 89.6% by age group.
* among cigar users, cigarillo users most commonly endorsed flavors as a reason for use, from 60.0% to 72.9%.
* The study highlights the significant public health concern of flavored tobacco use, particularly among youth and young adults.

Main Message:
The study emphasizes the need for regulatory measures to address the issue of flavored tobacco use, particularly for ENDS and cigars. The Food and Drug administration has taken steps to address this concern, including announcing plans to stop exercising enforcement discretion with new flavored deemed tobacco products, including ENDS. The study concludes that continued efforts are necessary to protect public health and reduce the use of flavored tobacco products, especially among young people.

Rostron BL, Cheng YC, Gardner LD, ambrose BK. Prevalence and Reasons for Use of Flavored Cigars and ENDS among US Youth and adults: Estimates from Wave 4 of the PaTh Study, 2016-2017. american journal of health behavior. 2020;44(1):76-81. doi:10.5993/aJhB.44.1.8