Reasons for E-Cigarette Use among US Middle and High School Students

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. middle school and high school students in 2016. The Surgeon General concluded that e-cigarettes can contain harmful and potentially harmful constituents, including nicotine. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can cause addiction and can harm the developing adolescent brain.

What is added by this report?

Among student respondents to the National Youth Tobacco Survey reporting ever using e-cigarettes in 2016, the most commonly selected reasons for use were used by “friend or family member” (39%), availability of “flavors such as mint, candy, fruit, or chocolate” (31%), and the belief that “they are less harmful than other forms of tobacco such as cigarettes” (17%). The least commonly selected reasons were “they are easier to get than other tobacco products, such as cigarettes” (5%), “they cost less than other tobacco products such as cigarettes” (3%), and “famous people on TV or in movies use them” (2%).

What are the implications for public health practice?

Efforts to prevent middle school and high school students from initiating the use of any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, are important to reduce tobacco product use among U.S. youths. Regulation of the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products by the Food and Drug Administration, along with sustained implementation of comprehensive tobacco control and prevention strategies, could reduce e-cigarette use and initiation by middle school and high school students.