Caroline O. Cobb, Ph.D. VCU Psychology Department & Center for the Study of Tobacco Products Vaping & Students: Who’s Puffing What?
Goals for this session Describe e-cigarette technology and constituents. Review current prevalence trends and implications of e-cigarette use.
First things first…What are e-cigs? 1.Has a battery or power source 2.Uses an electrical heater with a heating element or atomizer 3.Contains liquid that is aerosolized (i.e., vaped) LOTs of variation in these three components.
Several generations or “types” of e-cigs 3 Tank Cartomizer OPEN SYSTEMS (2 nd /3 rd gen, mods) CLOSED SYSTEMS (1 st gen, “cig-a-likes”) Cigarette
How much nicotine can they deliver? Same e-cig liquid used 18 mg/ml Farsalinos et al., 2014
Plasma nicotine ng/ml How much nicotine can they deliver? TIME (min) Farsalinos et al., 2014; Vansickel et al., Ad lib e-cigarette use
Plasma nicotine ng/ml How much nicotine can they deliver? TIME (min) Farsalinos et al., 2014; Vansickel et al., 2010 Cig-a-like Mod Cigarette
1. Nicotine (but some are labeled 0% nicotine) 2. PG/VG- responsible for the aerosol, a humectant & solvent needed for colors and flavors: PG – propylene glycol, VG – vegetable glycerine 3. Flavorings: Tobacco, Menthol, Fruit, Coffee, Cinnamon, Vanilla But wait there’s more!...THC, alcohol, vitamins What else is in e-cigarette liquid?
Tobacco-specific nitrosamines Volatile aldehydes (Formaldehyde) Metals VOCs Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Contents VARY significantly within and between brands and products. HINT: It is NOT just water vapor! What about other chemicals? Cheng, 2014
Who is using e-cigarettes? Past 30-day use in US high school students 13.4% 9.4% Source: National Youth Tobacco Survey,
In 2014 among year olds nationally: - 5.1% currently used e-cigs % currently smoked cigarettes In 2013 across four colleges/universities in NY: % were ever users % were current users: males, current/former smokers, other tobacco users, binge drinkers more likely to use e-cigs What about among college-aged students? National Health Interview Survey; Saddleson et al., 2015
Do e-cigs help cigarette smokers quit? Few randomized controlled trials. Observational reports vary (+ and – findings). Many methodological/methods differences as well as problems. Factors potentially related to e-cig cessation success: – Nicotine delivery ability (e.g., device type) – Intensity of e-cig use (daily/intensive use). MORE HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH NEEDED!!
Goals for this session Lots of products, lots of variability in levels of nicotine or other toxicants they deliver. E-cigarette use surpassing conventional smoking in some populations. Role as smoking cessation aid not conclusive, but early evidence appears promising.
Thanks for listening! Questions?