Nicotine and Nicotine-Free Vaping Behavior among a Sample of Canadian high School Students: a Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction:
This text summarizes a cross-sectional study examining the prevalence and correlations of past-month nicotine vaping, nicotine-free vaping, and dual-use vaping among Canadian high school students. The study uses data from the 2019 Canadian Student Tobacco, alcohol and Drugs Survey.

Key Points:

* approximately 12% of students reported past-month nicotine vaping, 2.8% reported nicotine-free vaping, and 14% reported dual-use vaping.
* Substance use (smoking, alcohol, cannabis) and being male were associated with membership in every category of vape use.
* age was associated with vape use, but in different directions. Grade 10 and 11 students were more likely than grade 9 students to vape exclusively with nicotine, while grade 9 students were more likely than grade 11 and 12 students to vape with both nicotine and nicotine-free vapes.
* The study highlights the high and growing prevalence of adolescent vape use and the lack of research on specific types of vape users.
* The study's findings suggest that nicotine, nicotine-free, and dual-substance use remain a common pattern of vape use among Canadian high school students.
* The results can aid future public health initiatives through the identification of key demographics for targeted initiatives.
* Greater awareness and programming around the dangers of nicotine-free vaping represents one such prospect.
* More work is needed to prevent the initiation of vape use altogether and to deliver interventions that target polysubstance use among those who have started vaping.

Main Message:
The study sheds light on the growing issue of adolescent vaping in Canada and the need for further research and targeted public health initiatives. The findings suggest that nicotine, nicotine-free, and dual-substance use are common patterns of vape use among high school students. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing the lack of research on specific types of vape users and highlights the need for greater awareness and programming around the dangers of nicotine-free vaping. Ultimately, the study underscores the need for continued efforts to prevent the initiation of vape use and to deliver interventions that target polysubstance use among those who have started vaping.

Wiley ER, Seabrook Ja. Nicotine and Nicotine-Free Vaping Behavior among a Sample of Canadian high School Students: a Cross-Sectional Study. Children (Basel, Switzerland). 2023;10(2). doi:10.3390/children10020368