Correlates of Lifetime and Past Month Vape Use in a Sample of Canadian University Students.

Introduction:
This article summarizes a study on vape use among Canadian university students, focusing on correlates of lifetime and past month vape use among students aged 17 to 19, 20 to 25, and 26+ years at Western University in London, Ontario. The study also assesses lifetime and past month vape use among students who are not of legal age to purchase vaping products in Ontario (ie, those 17-18 years only).

Key Points:

* The study was conducted via a cross-sectional survey sent to all registered students at Western University in January 2020.
* The survey consisted of 50 questions, including two related to vape use: whether the student had ever vaped in their lifetime and their vaping frequency over the past month.
* The study found that teenage university students were more likely to have vaped in the past month compared to older students, and males were more likely to have vaped than females.
* alcohol, cigarette, cannabis, and cocaine use were all associated with increased odds of vaping in the past month.
* Students who reported many sexual partners were also more likely to have vaped in the past month.
* The study also found that students who were not of legal age to purchase vaping products in Ontario (ie, those 17-18 years old) had high rates of lifetime and past month vape use, with cigarette smoking and cannabis use being the strongest correlates.

Main Message:
The study highlights the high prevalence of vape use among university students, particularly among teenagers and those who engage in other risky behaviors such as alcohol and substance use. It emphasizes the need for targeted prevention efforts among this population, including policies and programs aimed at curbing vape use among Canadian youth. The findings can be used by universities and local public health units to develop effective vaping awareness and prevention campaigns, particularly for vulnerable students. Future research should expand these findings to other post-secondary institutions across Canada and utilize longitudinal designs to determine which risk factors increase the likelihood of first-time vape use or vaping on a more regular and frequent basis.

Seabrook Ja, Twynstra J, Gilliland Ja. Correlates of Lifetime and Past Month Vape Use in a Sample of Canadian University Students. Subst abuse. 2021;15:11782218211052060. doi:10.1177/11782218211052059