Retail Access to E-cigarettes and Frequency of E-cigarette Use in High School Students

Abstract Objective To determine the relationship between lifetime e-cigarette use and current cannabis use among youth. Our analyses accounted for county variability, in addition to student-level covariates. Methods This study examined responses from high school students on a state-level population survey, the 2018 Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Youth Tobacco Survey, a cross-sectional, complex survey sample. Of participating students, final analyses included an unweighted sample of 41,091 9th to 12th grade students who provided complete reports for measured variables. Analyses with survey weights were conducted between August 2019 and May 2020. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to investigate the association between lifetime e-cigarette use and current (past 30-day) cannabis use, after controlling for county, lifetime cigarette use, current (past 30-day) alcohol use, emotional distress, and demographics. Results Lifetime e-cigarette use significantly increased the odds of current cannabis use among Maryland high school students (aOR = 6.04; 95% CI 5.27, 6.93). Other significant risk factors for current cannabis use included lifetime cigarette use (aOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.86, 2.68) and current alcohol use (aOR 5.21, 95% CI 4.42, 6.14). Significantly higher odds of current cannabis use were also found among older high school students, males, non-Hispanic Blacks and students identifying as other race, and those reporting emotional distress. Conclusions Lifetime e-cigarette use among Maryland high school students is strongly associated with current cannabis use when including counties as a covariate. Non-significant county differences, however, suggest smaller geographical units may be required to control for variability. Efforts should focus on reducing youth e-cigarette use to decrease cannabis use. Maryland’s recent implementation of Tobacco 21 and a ban on flavored e-cigarettes will be of interest for future evaluations.

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Electronic Cigarette and Traditional Cigarette Use among Middle and High School Students in Florida, 2011–2014

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0124385 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. e0124385 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Lauren Porter ◽

Jennifer Duke ◽

Meredith Hennon ◽

David Dekevich ◽

Erik Crankshaw ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Electronic Cigarette ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

School Students

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Cooling e-cigarette flavors and the association with e-cigarette use among a sample of high school students

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0256844 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (9) ◽

pp. e0256844

Author(s):

Danielle R. Davis ◽

Meghan E. Morean ◽

Krysten W. Bold ◽

Deepa Camenga ◽

Grace Kong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Age Of Onset ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

School Students ◽

Demographic Differences ◽

The Past ◽

Sensory Experiences ◽

Frequency Of Use

Introduction E-liquid flavor is typically presented by flavor category (e.g. menthol, mint, fruit, dessert). Cooling sensations produced by flavor additives such as menthol enhance appeal of e-cigarettes among youth, but not all e-liquids that produce cooling sensations are labeled as menthol. Sensory experiences produced by flavors may allow for a new way to capture e-cigarette flavor use. This study aims to examine use of flavors that produce cooling sensations among youth and its association with e-cigarette use behaviors. Methods A 2019 survey of high school students (n = 4875) examined use of e-cigarette flavors that produced cooling sensations (cooling flavors) among past 30-day e-cigarette users. E-cigarette use behaviors (flavor use, nicotine use, frequency of use) were examined between those who did and did not use cooling flavors. A binary logistic regression was used to examine associations between vaping frequency, nicotine (vs. non-nicotine) use, and vaping cooling flavors while controlling for demographics, number of flavors vaped in the past month, and vaping age of onset. Results 51.6% (n = 473/916) of the analytic sample endorsed vaping cooling flavors. There were no demographic differences by vaping cooling flavors. Vaping cooling flavors was associated with vaping more frequently (AOR:1.04,95% CI:1.03,1.05) and vaping nicotine (AOR:2.37,95% CI:1.53,3.67). Conclusion Vaping cooling flavors was associated with greater nicotine vaping and frequency of e-cigarette use. Assessing sensory experience, such as cooling, in addition to flavor category may more fully capture e-cigarette flavor use and its impacts on youth e-cigarette use behaviors.

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