From 2017 to 2019, vaping prevalence among college students quadrupled. The Vaping Initiation, Continuation, Termination, or Resumption in Youth (VICTORY) study sought to better understand initiation and regular use of electronic nicotine delivery systems, or ENDS. ENDSs (vapes, vaporizers, vape pens, e-cigarettes, e-cigars, hookah pens, and e-pipes) tend to be marketed as less harmful than traditional forms of smoking, and are now the most widely used tobacco product by youths. Youth exposure to nicotine is especially of concern because nicotine use impacts memory, cognitive function, and executive function during a key time of brain development. Even as cigarette smoking rates decrease in the U.S., youth use of ENDS continues to climb dramatically.
Study participants were recruited using an email campaign. In the email, students could click a hyperlink or use a QR code to access a Qualtrics survey. The survey was 48 questions long, and students could skip certain questions depending on their previous answers. If a student reported no history of vaping, they did not have to answer any subsequent questions on vaping practices. Students who indicated that they have a history of experimentation with vaping were asked abut what initiated their vaping use, and whether they continue to vape.
Ultimately, 543 students completed the survey. 50% (260) reported ever using a vape, while 67% (363) had used tobacco, vapes, or cannabis more than once. Compared to students who used other substances, those who vaped reported use on more days per month. This study also found no significant gender distinction for vaping.
Takeaway: College students are vaping at increasing rates, and those who do vape do so more often than other students use other substances like tobacco and cannabis.