ENDS Device Type and Initiation of Combustible Tobacco Products among adolescents.

Introduction:
This summary will provide an overview of a study examining the relationship between electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) device type and the initiation of combustible tobacco product use among adolescents. The study uses data from the Texas adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance System (TaTaMS) to analyze the impact of different ENDS device types on subsequent or simultaneous combustible tobacco product use in a probability, population-based cohort of Texas adolescents.

Key Points:

* The study used data from the TaTaMS survey, which followed a population-based cohort of adolescents in major metropolitan areas of Texas from 2014 to 2018.
* The study focused on adolescents who reported ever using an ENDS product at any of the eight waves of the survey.
* The study compared ever combustible tobacco use among ever ENDS users by timing of use (subsequent, dual, or prior).
* The study found that participants who reported using refillable devices as their first ENDS device type were more likely to initiate combustible tobacco product use in a wave subsequent to ENDS initiation.
* Participants who reported using cartridges as their first ENDS device type were more likely to initiate combustible tobacco product use in the same wave as ENDS initiation.
* The study controlled for sociodemographic factors such as grade, gender, socioeconomic status, and race/ethnicity.
* The study found that after controlling for sociodemographic factors, the odds of initiating combustible tobacco use subsequent to ENDS initiation were significantly lower among those who reported using cartridges as their initial device type, compared with those who reported refillables.
* The study also found that after controlling for sociodemographic factors, the odds of initiating combustible tobacco use in the same wave as ENDS initiation were significantly higher among those who reported using cartridges as their initial device type, compared with those who reported refillables.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of considering ENDS device type in understanding the relationship between ENDS use and combustible tobacco product use among adolescents. The findings suggest that different ENDS device types may differentially impact the likelihood of subsequent or simultaneous combustible tobacco product use, with refillable devices being associated with a lower likelihood of subsequent use and cartridges being associated with a higher likelihood of simultaneous use. These results have implications for future research and regulation of ENDS products.

Sumbe a, Clendennen SL, Opara SC, et al. ENDS Device Type and Initiation of Combustible Tobacco Products among adolescents. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2021;23(3):479-486. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntaa115