Halvorson Max A, Epstein Marina, Karryn Satchell A, Paulette Alyssa, Oesterle Sabrina, Kuklinski Margaret R
Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Addict Behav. 2025 Jul 3;170:108420. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108420.
Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use has become nearly as prevalent among young adults as cigarette use. Although a growing body of literature investigates the reasons young adults initiate ENDS use, little is known about how these reasons relate to subsequent nicotine use. Understanding how reasons for trying ENDS relate both to prior cigarette use and to subsequent patterns of cigarette and ENDS use may help to identify future higher- and lower-risk nicotine use.
Using data from a community longitudinal study, we examined lifetime cigarette use prior to age 23, reasons for trying ENDS reported at age 23, and cigarette and ENDS use at age 26 among 977 young adults who had tried ENDS by age 23.
Compared to those who had never or infrequently smoked cigarettes, current and former smokers were more likely to try ENDS to quit or cut down on cigarette use, to try a safer alternative to cigarettes, and/or out of curiosity. Participants who reported trying ENDS to quit cigarettes or to try a safer alternative (vs. those who didn't) were more likely to use cigarettes and ENDS 3 years later and use in higher quantities. Trying out of curiosity was associated with less cigarette and ENDS use, while trying for the available flavors was related to more ENDS but not cigarette use.
Young adults' reasons for trying ENDS indicate risk for future cigarette and ENDS use and could have clinical utility in identifying young adults who might benefit from preventive interventions.
电子尼古丁传送系统（ENDS）的使用在年轻人中几乎已变得与香烟使用一样普遍。尽管越来越多的文献研究年轻人开始使用ENDS的原因，但对于这些原因如何与后续的尼古丁使用相关却知之甚少。了解尝试使用ENDS的原因如何既与先前的香烟使用相关，又与后续的香烟和ENDS使用模式相关，可能有助于识别未来尼古丁使用风险较高和较低的人群。
利用一项社区纵向研究的数据，我们调查了977名在23岁前尝试过ENDS的年轻人在23岁之前的终生香烟使用情况、23岁时报告的尝试使用ENDS的原因，以及26岁时的香烟和ENDS使用情况。
与从未或很少吸烟的人相比，目前和以前的吸烟者更有可能为了戒烟或减少香烟使用、尝试一种比香烟更安全的替代品，和/或出于好奇而尝试ENDS。报告为了戒烟或尝试更安全替代品而尝试ENDS的参与者（与未这样做的参与者相比）在3年后更有可能使用香烟和ENDS，且使用量更大。出于好奇而尝试与较少的香烟和ENDS使用相关，而因有可用口味而尝试则与更多的ENDS使用相关，但与香烟使用无关。
年轻人尝试ENDS的原因表明其未来有使用香烟和ENDS的风险，并且在识别可能从预防性干预中受益的年轻人方面可能具有临床实用性。
