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.

 

Saddleson, M. L., Kozlowski, L. T., Giovino, G. A., Goniewicz, M. L., Mahoney, M. C., Homish, G. G., & Arora, A. (2016). Enjoyment and other reasons for electronic cigarette use: Results from college students in New York. Addictive behaviors54, 33-39.