Flavoring Patterns of Exclusive and Dual-Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes among US adults: Results from the TUS-CPS 2018-2019.

Introduction:
This text summarizes an applied research brief published in the american Journal of health Promotion, which explores the patterns of use of menthol/non-menthol cigarettes with flavored e-cigarettes among US adults. The study uses data from the 2018-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) and generates a 15-category variable of all combinations of cigarette and e-cigarette flavoring use. The researchers estimate population prevalence and proportion of flavored cigarette and e-cigarette use among adults who used cigarettes or e-cigarettes by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income.

Key Points:

* The study found that exclusive menthol cigarette use was higher among Nh Black and low-income participants compared to Nh White and high-income participants.
* Exclusive sweet/spicy e-cigarette use and exclusive menthol e-cigarette use was higher in younger (18-34) vs older (35+) adults.
* Older dual users tended to combine the same flavor in both products, while younger adults were more likely to combine menthol and non-menthol cigarettes with sweet/spicy e-cigarettes.
* The study suggests that a menthol cigarette ban might be most effective in conjunction with sweet/spicy e-cigarette flavor restrictions.
* The FDa has initiated enforcement against some e-cigarette products, prioritizing enforcement vs. cartridge-based flavored e-cigarettes, and started reviewing e-cigarette PMTa applications in 2020.
* an emerging challenge is the rapid increase in the use of e-cigarette products using synthetic nicotine, which some companies claim fall outside the FDa's tobacco product regulatory scope.
* The study's findings suggest that a ban on menthol cigarettes could be more effective if applied in conjunction with regulations that restrict access to sweet/spicy e-cigarette flavors, including e-cigarettes that use synthetic nicotine.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of examining the joint patterns of flavored cigarette and e-cigarette use to inform tobacco control policies. The findings suggest that a ban of menthol cigarettes could be more effective if applied in conjunction with a regulation restricting access to sweet/spicy e-cigarette flavors, including e-cigarettes that use synthetic nicotine. The study provides valuable information to policymakers of current and potential future restrictions on tobacco product flavoring.

Zavala-arciniega L, hirschtick JL, Meza R, Fleischer NL. Flavoring Patterns of Exclusive and Dual-Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes among US adults: Results from the TUS-CPS 2018-2019. american journal of health promotion : aJhP. 2022;36(8):1339-1345. doi:10.1177/08901171221097682