The use and popularity of e-cigarettes among young adults is on the rise. One argument surrounding e-cigarette use involves concern that they serve as a “gateway” to future cigarette smoking. On the contrary, others perceive e-cigarettes as a safe “alternative” that can help reduce cigarette smoking. A recent article aimed to identify reasons college students use or experiment with e-cigarettes, as well as evaluate if reasons vary based on e-cigarette status (Discontinued—ever use, but not in the previous 30 days; Non-Daily—use on 1-29 days in the previous 30 days; Daily—use on all 30 days). Study participants included consenting undergraduate students enrolled in selected classes among four New York State universities [n=1437; only 29.8% used e-cigarettes and thus this subset (n=429) was analyzed]. All participants completed an online survey where they self-reported cigarette smoking and e-cigarette status, as well as reasons for e-cigarette use. Demographics based on e-cigarette status were: Discontinued (n=214), Non-Daily (n=200; 41% current smokers), and Daily (n=15; 69% current smokers). Regardless of e-cigarette status, most users reported “to try something new” as their top reason for use. Reasons that differed among e-cigarette status included:
- Use for enjoyment—significantly more current users (daily + non-daily, 72%) reported enjoyment as a reason compared with discontinued users (43%)
- Reduce cigarette smoking—significantly more daily users (53%) reported this reason compared with non-daily (12%) and discontinued (13%) users
Take Away: Research suggests adults often use e-cigarettes exclusively as a means to quit smoking cigarettes; however, in this study, this reason only applied to those college students using on a daily basis. Most college e-cigarette users identified “to try something new” or “use for enjoyment” as their top reason, offering explanations that may help influence prevention efforts on college campuses.