About this Research Topic
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) and vapes, types of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), are a global public health concern. E-cig use among youth has shown an alarming increase, with rates exceeding that of adults in some countries. Although e-cigs are widely perceived as less harmful to health than combustible tobacco use, e-cig health risks include, for example, respiratory conditions, such as irritation of the respiratory tract and exacerbation of asthma.
Globally, of particular relevance to youth e-cig use, there are no policies regulating ENDS products in 74 countries, and 88 countries have no minimum legal age of e-cig purchase. Variations in national and local regulatory policy are associated with differences in the prevalence of e-cig use in youth across high-, middle-, and low income countries. Further, changes in product availability, including the emergence of new products and flavors, contribute to changes in regional prevalence of e-cig use among youth over time.
There is a critical need to stop the rapid increase in ENDS use and associated health-related risks in youth. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and MPOWER policy package provide a common ground for participating nations regarding youth e-cig surveillance, prevention, and intervention. The FCTC and MPOWER constitute a useful starting point for ending the escalation of e-cig use among youth globally. However, policy and prevention efforts need to be informed by current data on risk and protective factors across multiple levels that span individual, family and peers, through community and public policy levels. High quality, large scale national and global surveys of youth e-cig use that are currently available (e.g., International Tobacco Youth Survey, Global Youth Tobacco Survey, Global Tobacco Surveillance System) make it possible to examine cross-national differences in youth e-cig prevalence, time trends in use, potential policy impacts on youth e-cig use, patterns of “dual use” (combustible tobacco and e-cig use) and co-use of e-cigs with other substances (e.g., alcohol, cannabis) in relation to health risks and other negative consequences of e-cig use to inform regulatory policy and prevention efforts.
This research topic focuses on empirical articles that can inform effective regulatory policy and prevention that limit youth e-cig use and associated health harms. Relevant themes include, for example, characterizing youth e-cig prevalence regionally and cross-nationally in relation to risk and protective factors, regulatory policy, and reasons for and consequences of e-cig use. Studies examining time trends in youth e-cig use in relation to changes in regulatory policy and product availability are of interest, as is research on trajectories of youth e-cig use in relation to other substance use (e.g., combustible tobacco use [“dual use”], and “co-use” of alcohol and/or cannabis). Research on the role of advertising and marketing in youth e-cig use, and the effects of youth e-cig prevention and intervention programs are needed. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (pre-registration required) where a critical mass of literature to address gaps on topics relevant to youth e-cig use are encouraged.
Globally, of particular relevance to youth e-cig use, there are no policies regulating ENDS products in 74 countries, and 88 countries have no minimum legal age of e-cig purchase. Variations in national and local regulatory policy are associated with differences in the prevalence of e-cig use in youth across high-, middle-, and low income countries. Further, changes in product availability, including the emergence of new products and flavors, contribute to changes in regional prevalence of e-cig use among youth over time.
There is a critical need to stop the rapid increase in ENDS use and associated health-related risks in youth. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and MPOWER policy package provide a common ground for participating nations regarding youth e-cig surveillance, prevention, and intervention. The FCTC and MPOWER constitute a useful starting point for ending the escalation of e-cig use among youth globally. However, policy and prevention efforts need to be informed by current data on risk and protective factors across multiple levels that span individual, family and peers, through community and public policy levels. High quality, large scale national and global surveys of youth e-cig use that are currently available (e.g., International Tobacco Youth Survey, Global Youth Tobacco Survey, Global Tobacco Surveillance System) make it possible to examine cross-national differences in youth e-cig prevalence, time trends in use, potential policy impacts on youth e-cig use, patterns of “dual use” (combustible tobacco and e-cig use) and co-use of e-cigs with other substances (e.g., alcohol, cannabis) in relation to health risks and other negative consequences of e-cig use to inform regulatory policy and prevention efforts.
This research topic focuses on empirical articles that can inform effective regulatory policy and prevention that limit youth e-cig use and associated health harms. Relevant themes include, for example, characterizing youth e-cig prevalence regionally and cross-nationally in relation to risk and protective factors, regulatory policy, and reasons for and consequences of e-cig use. Studies examining time trends in youth e-cig use in relation to changes in regulatory policy and product availability are of interest, as is research on trajectories of youth e-cig use in relation to other substance use (e.g., combustible tobacco use [“dual use”], and “co-use” of alcohol and/or cannabis). Research on the role of advertising and marketing in youth e-cig use, and the effects of youth e-cig prevention and intervention programs are needed. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (pre-registration required) where a critical mass of literature to address gaps on topics relevant to youth e-cig use are encouraged.
Keywords: e-cigarettes, vape, nicotine, tobacco control, adolescent, young adult
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