E-cigarettes & youth cultures
Concerns about the emergence and growing popularity of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) such as e-cigarettes and vaping systems have been raised by the public health community. Three specific concerns related to ENDS have emerged in the literature as relevant for adolescents and young adults: (1) ENDS may threaten tobacco denormalization efforts that are intended to make smoking socially unacceptable, (2) ENDS may be used together with, not in place of, conventional cigarettes (dual-use), and (3) ENDS may serve as a gateway into smoking. To date, these concerns are largely speculative because too little research has investigated their relevance for young people. This study takes a socio-cultural approach to understanding meanings associated with ENDS use, relationships between ENDS and conventional smoking, and ENDS practices for California adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15-25. We want to hear how young people think about these devices from their own perspectives.
Research Team
Tamar Antin, Principal Investigator
Geoffrey Hunt, Co-Investigator
Rachelle Annechino, Dissemination Lead
This project is housed in the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.
Funding
This research is supported by funds from the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), grant number 24RT-0019. The content provided here is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of TRDRP.