TY - JOUR
T1 - Device and liquid characteristics used with sweet, menthol/mint, and tobacco ENDS liquid flavors
T2 - The population-based VAPER study
AU - Crespi, Elizabeth
AU - Hardesty, Jeffrey J.
AU - Nian, Qinghua
AU - Sinamo, Joshua
AU - Welding, Kevin
AU - Cohen, Joanna E.
AU - David Kennedy, Ryan
N1 - Funding Information:
Research reported in this publication was supported by NIDA and FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) under Award Number U54DA036105. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or the Food and Drug Administration.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - Introduction: Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) device and liquid characteristics (e.g., wattage, nicotine concentration) are diverse and important in determining product appeal, aerosol volume/nicotine levels, and toxicity. Little is known about how device and liquid characteristics vary by flavor; we address this gap to identify potential regulatory implications. Methods: Data are from a longitudinal cohort study (Waves 2 and 3; December 2020-December 2021) of adult (≥21 years) U.S. ENDS users (≥5 days of use/week). Participants (n = 1809) reported on and submitted photos of their most used device and liquid. Participants were categorized into flavor groups of high prevalence in our sample and in prior literature: sweet, menthol/mint, or tobacco. Participants using liquids without nicotine or flavors other than sweet, menthol/mint, or tobacco were excluded (n = 320). Data were analyzed cross-sectionally. Chi-square and linear regression (n = 1489) were used to examine device and liquid characteristics by flavor. Results: Sweet flavors were most common (n = 1135; 76.2%), followed by menthol/mint (n = 214, 14.4%) and tobacco (n = 140, 9.4%). Sweet flavors were less common among participants using reusable devices with disposable pods/cartridges (nicotine salt) than those using other device-liquid groupings (5.2% vs 86.5–93.9%; p < 0.001). Sweet flavors were less common among those using ENDS for non-flavor reasons vs the flavor (73.5% vs 90.4%; p < 0.001). Sweet flavors correlated with lower nicotine concentrations, higher wattages, and lower ages of ENDS first use (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Regulatory agencies must consider how regulations on device and liquid characteristics may affect ENDS users’ behaviors (e.g., limiting availability of sweet flavors may encourage use of non-sweet flavors and lower wattages).
AB - Introduction: Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) device and liquid characteristics (e.g., wattage, nicotine concentration) are diverse and important in determining product appeal, aerosol volume/nicotine levels, and toxicity. Little is known about how device and liquid characteristics vary by flavor; we address this gap to identify potential regulatory implications. Methods: Data are from a longitudinal cohort study (Waves 2 and 3; December 2020-December 2021) of adult (≥21 years) U.S. ENDS users (≥5 days of use/week). Participants (n = 1809) reported on and submitted photos of their most used device and liquid. Participants were categorized into flavor groups of high prevalence in our sample and in prior literature: sweet, menthol/mint, or tobacco. Participants using liquids without nicotine or flavors other than sweet, menthol/mint, or tobacco were excluded (n = 320). Data were analyzed cross-sectionally. Chi-square and linear regression (n = 1489) were used to examine device and liquid characteristics by flavor. Results: Sweet flavors were most common (n = 1135; 76.2%), followed by menthol/mint (n = 214, 14.4%) and tobacco (n = 140, 9.4%). Sweet flavors were less common among participants using reusable devices with disposable pods/cartridges (nicotine salt) than those using other device-liquid groupings (5.2% vs 86.5–93.9%; p < 0.001). Sweet flavors were less common among those using ENDS for non-flavor reasons vs the flavor (73.5% vs 90.4%; p < 0.001). Sweet flavors correlated with lower nicotine concentrations, higher wattages, and lower ages of ENDS first use (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Regulatory agencies must consider how regulations on device and liquid characteristics may affect ENDS users’ behaviors (e.g., limiting availability of sweet flavors may encourage use of non-sweet flavors and lower wattages).
KW - Behavior
KW - Electronic nicotine delivery systems
KW - Flavor
KW - Nicotine
KW - Public health
KW - Survey
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U2 - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107727
DO - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107727
M3 - Article
C2 - 37119714
AN - SCOPUS:85153501049
SN - 0306-4603
VL - 144
JO - Addictive Behaviors
JF - Addictive Behaviors
M1 - 107727
ER -