Summary
Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a study that compares the risk factors of exclusive e-cigarette users, traditional tobacco product users, and dual users among US adolescents. The study aims to determine if the risk profile of adolescents who exclusively use e-cigarettes differs from those who use traditional tobacco products.
Key Points:
* The study utilized a sample of 708 adolescents and compared individual, peer, and family risk factors associated with substance use between exclusive e-cigarette users and traditional tobacco product users.
* Exclusive e-cigarette users and traditional tobacco product users share many risk factors, but some differences emerged when distinguishing exclusive traditional tobacco users and dual users compared to exclusive e-cigarette users.
* Lower friend and peer e-cigarette use and greater friend cigarette smoking were associated with being an exclusive tobacco user, and lower SES and greater friend and peer cigarette use were associated with being a dual user.
* Effect sizes were small-to-moderate, indicating that exclusive e-cigarette users and traditional tobacco users share multiple risk factors.
* Measures were self-reported, and the small sample size resulted in a small group of exclusive traditional tobacco users, which prohibited an examination of specific groups of substance users.
Main Message:
The study suggests that prevention and intervention efforts targeting traditional tobacco product use may be successful in targeting exclusive e-cigarette use and dual use. The findings can help guide these efforts, as exclusive e-cigarette users and traditional tobacco users share multiple risk factors. however, more research is needed to replicate and understand the driver of the association between SES and e-cigarette use. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of addressing the shared risk factors of traditional tobacco product use and e-cigarette use to prevent and intervene in adolescent substance use.
Citation
Burnell K, Kwiatek SM, hoyle Rh. are Exclusive e-Cigarette Users Unique? Comparing Predictors of Exclusive e-Cigarette Use with Traditional Tobacco Use and Dual Use among U.S. adolescents. Substance use & misuse. 2021;56(6):905-910. doi:10.1080/10826084.2021.1899236
