Impact of existing and potential e-cigarette flavor restrictions on e-cigarette use among young adult e-cigarette users in 6 US metropolitan areas

Authors

Katelyn F. Romm, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA.
Lisa Henriksen, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Jidong Huang, Department of Health Policy & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Daisy Le, George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Michelle Clausen, Department of Policy, Populations, and Systems, School of Nursing, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Zongshuan Duan, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA.
Caroline Fuss, Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Breesa Bennett, Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Carla J. Berg, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-1-2022

Journal

Preventive medicine reports

Volume

28

DOI

10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101901

Keywords

E-cigarettes; Flavor restrictions; Mixed-methods; Young adults

Abstract

Given the 2020 federal restrictions on flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes and increasing state/local flavored e-cigarette sales restrictions, this mixed-methods study examined US young adult e-cigarette users' responses to flavored e-cigarette sales restrictions (e.g., changes in use, products used, access). We descriptively analyzed Fall 2020 survey data from 726 past 6-month e-cigarette users (M = 24.15, 51.1% female, 4.4% Black, 10.2% Asian, 12.1% Hispanic, 35.5% sexual minority), and qualitatively analyzed Spring 2021 semi-structured interview data among 40 participants (M = 26.30, 35.0% female, 5.0% Black, 22.5% Asian, 12.5% Hispanic, 45.0% sexual minority). Across all participants (i.e., survey and interview participants), ≥80% most commonly used non-tobacco flavors; ≥40% used tank-based devices. Survey participants most commonly reported that the federal restrictions did not impact their use: 35.8% used available flavors (i.e., tobacco, menthol), 30.4% continued to use tank-based e-cigarettes, and 10.1% switched to tank-based e-cigarettes. Only 8.4% reduced their e-cigarette use. Among interview participants, some indicated no impact on their e-cigarette use because they stocked up or obtained flavors from alternative sources (e.g., online). Some filled their own pods with e-liquids, switched to menthol/tobacco flavors, switched e-cigarette devices or brands, and/or reduced use. Regarding the anticipated impact of comprehensive flavor restrictions, some participants reported that they would: 1) quit vaping; 2) switch to cigarettes; or 3) not change their use (e.g., stock up on flavors). The potential unintended reactions to flavored e-cigarette sales restrictions (e.g., continued use of flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes) underscore the need for ongoing surveillance of retail and consumer behavior to inform policy and compliance/enforcement efforts.

APA Citation

Romm, Katelyn F.; Henriksen, Lisa; Huang, Jidong; Le, Daisy; Clausen, Michelle; Duan, Zongshuan; Fuss, Caroline; Bennett, Breesa; and Berg, Carla J., "Impact of existing and potential e-cigarette flavor restrictions on e-cigarette use among young adult e-cigarette users in 6 US metropolitan areas" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 1334.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/1334

Department

Prevention and Community Health