Examining e-cigarette perspectives before and after the EVALI peak in cases.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a scientific study examining the impact of the EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury) outbreak on perceptions of e-cigarettes among U.S. adults. The study uses data collected from two surveys conducted before and after the peak of EVALI cases in 2019. The study aims to inform policy change and regulations on e-cigarette advertising and use.

Key Points:

* The study compares perceptions of e-cigarettes before and after the peak of EVALI cases in 2019 using data from two surveys conducted in July and October 2019.
* The study uses thematic analysis to identify four overarching themes in participants' responses, including e-cigarettes as appealing, unappealing, compared to tobacco products, and personal experience with e-cigarettes.
* The study found that fewer participants described e-cigarettes as appealing after the peak of EVALI cases, and there was an increase in awareness of the harmful effects of using e-cigarettes.
* Participants less frequently described e-cigarettes as a good alternative to traditional cigarettes after the peak of EVALI cases.
* The study also found that participants were concerned about the potential harmful influences of e-cigarettes on youth.
* The study suggests that more cities and states throughout the U.S. are creating laws pertaining to e-cigarettes, such as flavor bans and higher taxes on products.
* Future research should examine perceptions towards e-cigarettes among different populations, such as youth and young adults, in order to tailor messages that can decrease the use of e-cigarettes by targeting perceptions held by these specific populations.

Main Message:
This study highlights the importance of understanding how growing awareness of the potential harms of using e-cigarettes among the public shapes perceptions to inform policy change and regulations on e-cigarette advertising and use. The study suggests that there may have been a decrease in adults who found e-cigarettes appealing after the peak of EVALI cases, and an increase in awareness of the harmful effects of using e-cigarettes. The study also emphasizes the need to further examine perceptions towards e-cigarettes among different populations to tailor messages that can decrease the use of e-cigarettes. The main message of this study is that understanding public perceptions towards e-cigarettes is crucial in informing policy and regulations to protect public health.

Alber JM, Conover S, Marts E, Ganjooi K, Grossman S. Examining e-cigarette perspectives before and after the EVALI peak in cases. Addictive behaviors. 2021;119:106939. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106939