Comparing American college and noncollege young adults on e-cigarette use patterns including polysubstance use and reasons for using e-cigarettes

Abstract Background While rates of e-cigarette use (‘vaping’) continue to potentiate concern, there is limited data on common symptoms of e-cigarette dependence among young adults who vape. This study sought to critically explore how young adults experience, manifest, and conceptualize vaping dependence symptoms in their everyday lives. Methods Between June 2018 and 2019, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 62 young adults who use e-cigarettes (aged 18–25) and live in Southern California. We explored participants’ product preferences, daily e-cigarette use patterns, vaping history, withdrawal experiences, and quit attempts or periods of cessation. We used a thematic analysis approach to interpret the transcripts. Results Young adults discussed nine dimensions of vaping dependence that were organized into two categories: 1) general nicotine dependence symptoms, and 2) unique dependence symptoms related to vaping. Nicotine dependence symptoms included cravings and urgency to use, increased use to achieve desired effects, and unsuccessful quit attempts and withdrawal. Symptoms unique to vaping dependence included greater nicotine consumption due to accessibility and lack of restrictions, habitual vaping, inability to track vaping frequency, immediate gratification and comfort, social acceptability and norms, and awareness of vaping dependency. Conclusions In addition to nicotine dependence symptoms that have been characterized for other tobacco products, young adult e-cigarette users described unique symptoms of vaping dependence that necessitate the need for more refined measures. All dimensions of vaping dependence should be considered in discussions of policies as well as treatment and education efforts intended to protect young people from e-cigarette dependence.

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E-cigarette Use, Tobacco Product Polyuse, and Motivations for Use among Baltimore Young Adults

Health Behavior and Policy Review ◽

10.14485/hbpr.6.5.2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (5) ◽

pp. 427-437

Author(s):

Daisy Le ◽

Meghan B. Moran ◽

Rebkha Atnafou ◽

Pamela A. Matson ◽

Miranda R. Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Tobacco Use ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Risk Perceptions ◽

Tobacco Cessation ◽

Tobacco Product ◽

Urban Setting ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Use Patterns ◽

History Of

Objective: We examined reasons for e-cigarette use, tobacco product polyuse, and tobacco cessation interest among tobacco-using young adults from an urban setting. Methods: Participants (N = 97) completed a risk factor survey. Descriptive statistics and prevalence estimates of polytobacco use patterns, motivations for tobacco use, tobacco cessation interest, and beliefs and risk perceptions about tobacco use were explored. Results: All participants had a history of polyuse, and 85% were current polyusers. Stress was the primary reason reported for tobacco use. Compared to single-product users, current polyusers also were more likely to mention environment and cheap cost as reasons for use. Most participants perceived cigarettes to be as addictive as cocaine or heroin, although this perception was less common among e-cigarette users than non-users. Among study participants, 59% reported wanting to stop using tobacco completely. Among current polyusers, those that used e-cigarettes were more likely to report cessation attempts during the past year and express interest in enrolling in a quit smoking text messaging program. Conclusion: In our sample there was a high prevalence of polytobacco product use and complex tobacco use patterns among young adults, both in and out of college, from an urban community.

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Racial identity, discrimination, and polysubstance use: Examining culturally relevant correlates of substance use profiles among Black young adults.

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors ◽

10.1037/adb0000690 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Devin E. Banks ◽

Richelle L. Clifton ◽

Paris B. Wheeler

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Young Adults ◽

Racial Identity ◽

Culturally Relevant ◽

Polysubstance Use

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Electronic Cigarette Use Among Teenagers and Young Adults in Poland

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.2011-3448d ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 130 (4) ◽

pp. X27-X27

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Electronic Cigarette ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Teenagers And Young Adults

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Flavor and product messaging are the two most important drivers of electronic cigarette selection in a choice-based task

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84332-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Allison N. Baker ◽

Stephen J. Wilson ◽

John E. Hayes

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Conjoint Analysis ◽

Policy Making ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Electronic Cigarette ◽

Food Craving ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Men And Women ◽

Nicotine Level ◽

Utility Scores

AbstractElectronic cigarette use—vaping—is increasingly popular. Various product factors may influence an individual’s choice of e-cigarette. To provide an evidence base for e-cigarette regulation, a better understanding of the role different product attributes play in product preferences is needed. Here, we used conjoint analysis to quantify different factors that influence e-cigarettes choices, including flavors, nicotine level, customizability, or use of e-cigarettes to manage appetite/food craving. Young adults completed a set of choice-based conjoint tasks online. Choice Based Conjoint analysis (CBC) was used to determine utility scores for each attribute. Young adults (n = 587) who vaped at least once per week were included in analyses; gender differences were explored. Flavor was the most important attribute (48.1%), followed by product messaging (21.0%) and nicotine level (15.3%). Within flavor, confectionery and fruit flavors had the highest utility scores, while classic menthol and tobacco flavors had the lowest. Men and women differed in flavors, nicotine levels, and product messaging that appealed most. Among young adults who vape weekly, flavor is the most important factor in e-cigarette preferences. Gender also factors into e-cigarette preferences, especially for preferred nicotine level. Understanding why individuals choose particular e-cigarette products will help inform public health efforts and policy making.

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Local variation in cannabis use patterns among young adults in the San Francisco Bay Area

Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology ◽

10.1016/j.sste.2021.100418 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 37 ◽

pp. 100418

Author(s):

Louisa M. Holmes ◽

Johannes Thrul ◽

Natalie K. Warren ◽

Pamela M. Ling

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

San Francisco ◽

San Francisco Bay ◽

San Francisco Bay Area ◽

Local Variation ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Use Patterns ◽

Bay Area

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Marijuana use patterns and sleep among community-based young adults

Journal of Addictive Diseases ◽

10.1080/10550887.2015.1132986 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 135-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Deirdre A. Conroy ◽

Megan E. Kurth ◽

David R. Strong ◽

Kirk J. Brower ◽

Michael D. Stein

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Marijuana Use ◽

Community Based ◽

Use Patterns

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E-cigarette use and adverse respiratory symptoms among adolescents and Young adults in the United States

Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106766 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 106766

Author(s):

Benjamin W. Chaffee ◽

Jessica Barrington-Trimis ◽

Fei Liu ◽

Ran Wu ◽

Rob McConnell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Young Adults ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

The United States ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Cigarette Use

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‘Ice’ flavoured e-cigarette use among young adults

Tobacco Control ◽

10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056416 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-056416

Author(s):

Adam Leventhal ◽

Hongying Dai ◽

Jessica Barrington-Trimis ◽

Steve Sussman

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Los Angeles ◽

Tobacco Use ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

The Past ◽

Frequency Of Use ◽

Exposure Variable

Background‘Ice’ e-cigarette flavours—marketed as a combination of fruity/sweet and cooling flavours (eg, ‘blueberry ice’ or ‘melon ice’)—recently entered the US market. The prevalence and correlates of ice flavoured e-cigarette use in young adults are unknown.MethodsThis cross-sectional study of a Los Angeles, California, USA, cohort analysed data from the past 30-day e-cigarette (current) users (n=344; M (SD)=21.2 (0.4) years old) who completed web-based surveys from May–August 2020. The exposure variable was self-reported e-cigarette flavour used most often in the past month (menthol/mint, fruit/sweet or ice). Outcomes included self-reported combustible tobacco use, vaping dependence symptoms, frequency of use and device type used.ResultsAmong current e-cigarette users, 48.8% reported using ice flavours most often, 33.7% predominately used fruit/sweet and 17.4% used menthol/mint. Using primarily ice-flavour was associated with reporting more past-30-day vaping days (vs menthol/mint: b=4.4, 95% CI (1 to 7.7); vs fruit/sweet: b=3.6, 95% CI (0.8 to 6.4)) and more episodes per vaping day versus fruit/sweet users (b=2.4, 95% CI (0.5 to 4.3)). Ice-flavour users were less likely than menthol/mint users to use JUUL/cartridge-based rechargeable (OR=0.1, 95% CI (0.03 to 0.45)) and more likely than sweet/fruit users to use disposable non-cartridge (OR=3.9, 95% CI (2.1 to 7.4)) devices than refillable/rechargeable tank/pen or other devices. Ice users had greater odds of past 30-day combustible tobacco use versus menthol/mint users (OR=2.7, 95% CI (1.3 to 5.7)) and vaping dependence symptoms than versus sweet/fruit users (OR=2.6, 95% CI (1.5 to 4.4)).ConclusionYoung adult use of ice flavoured e-cigarettes may be common and positively associated with combustible tobacco use, nicotine vaping frequency and dependence and use of disposable e-cigarette devices. Further study of the prevalence, determinants and health effects of ice flavoured e-cigarette use is warranted.

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