Emergence of electronic cigarette use in US adolescents and the link to traditional cigarette use. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lanza, Stephanie T.; Russell, Michael A.; Braymiller, Jessica L.
• Is Part Of: Addictive behaviors. Volume 67(2017)
• Page Start: 38
• Page End: 43
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: NYTS National Youth Tobacco Survey -- TVEM time-varying effect modeling -- OR odds ratio; Adolescence -- E-cigarettes -- Cigarettes -- Time-varying effect modeling; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction -- Periodicals; Smoking -- Periodicals; Gambling -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.29
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.12.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4603

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are increasingly used by US adolescents and may be a gateway to traditional cigarette use. We examine rates of both products by age and examine differences in age-varying rates by sex and race/ethnicity. Methods: Data are from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey, a national sample of US middle and high school students ( n = 22.007); students ages 11–19 were included. Past 30-day e-cigarette and traditional cigarette use were examined as a function of age; sex and race/ethnicity were included as moderators. The age-varying association between e-cigarette and traditional cigarette use was also examined. Results: Rates of e-cigarette use increase faster than traditional cigarette use from ages 13–16. Compared to females, males had higher rates of e-cigarette use from ages 14–17.5 and traditional cigarette use from ages 15–18. Between ages 12–14, more Hispanic adolescents used e-cigarettes compared to White or Black adolescents; after age 14 Hispanics and Whites reported similar rates, peaking at twice the rate for Blacks. Hispanic adolescents report greater traditional cigarette use versus Whites between ages 12–13, but lower rates between ages 15–18. E-cigarette use was strongly associated with traditional cigarette use, particularly during early adolescence [OR > 40 before age 12]. Conclusions: Young Hispanic adolescents are at elevated risk for use of e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes during early adolescence. During early adolescence, youth using e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke traditional cigarettes compared to youth not using e-cigarettes. The study of age-varying effects holds promise for advancing understanding of disparities in health risk behaviors. Highlights: An innovative method is used to examine age trends in adolescent e-cigarette use from a large, contemporary data set. Rates of e-cigarette use increase faster than traditional cigarette use from ages 13-16. Risk for e-cigarette use was higher for male and Hispanic adolescents at certain ages. E-cigarette and traditional cigarette use were strongly associated throughout adolescence, particularly prior to age 15.