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Electronic Cigarette Use Among Youth: Understanding Unique Risks in a Vulnerable Population

  • Tobacco (K Bold and G Kong, Section Editors)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review discusses prevalence rates of electronic (e-)cigarette use among youth and factors that likely contribute to their growing popularity among this population. Trends shaping the e-cigarette landscape, the appeal of e-cigarettes among youth, perceptions contributing to the initiation of e-cigarettes, available assessments capturing the usage of and attitudes towards e-cigarettes, and e-cigarette policies and regulations are reviewed.

Recent Findings

E-cigarette use among this vulnerable group may relate to factors associated with the promotion of social status, individuality, and enjoyment, along with low perceptions of risk and harm. Measures assessing factors unique to e-cigarette use among youth (e.g., individuality) still need to be developed and validated. Effects of existing regulations to limit youth access to e-cigarettes may be limited, and shortcomings of current policy measures are discussed with recommendations.

Summary

The rise of e-cigarette use among youth culminated through a perfect storm of clever marketing targeting youth appeal, innovations in more effective nicotine delivery systems, capitalizing on increased susceptibility of the adolescent brain, and regulatory gaps. Understanding risk and protective factors specific to this vulnerable group, which can be gleaned in part by psychometrically valid assessments, could inform regulatory strategies and prevention programming efforts. Yet, few validated measures exist that assess attitudes, behaviors, and patterns of e-cigarette use that are specific to youth. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon policymakers to create comprehensive regulations that prioritize harm reduction and can evolve in lockstep with the constantly changing e-cigarette product landscape.

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Funding

This publication was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (U54 MD012393 to E. M. Trucco), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K08 AA023290 to E. M. Trucco), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (T32 DA043449 to W. E. Pelham) of the National Institutes of Health. In addition, this publication was supported by the University Graduate School’s Presidential Fellowship at Florida International University (to S. A. Hartmann). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or Florida International University.

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  1. Psychology Department, Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC-1, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Elisa M. Trucco, Nilofar Fallah-Sohy, Sarah A. Hartmann & Julie V. Cristello

  2. Psychiatry Department, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Elisa M. Trucco

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  1. Elisa M. Trucco
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  2. Nilofar Fallah-Sohy
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Correspondence to Elisa M. Trucco.

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Trucco, E.M., Fallah-Sohy, N., Hartmann, S.A. et al. Electronic Cigarette Use Among Youth: Understanding Unique Risks in a Vulnerable Population. Curr Addict Rep 7, 497–508 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-020-00340-w

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