Awareness and Use of Vaping Products With a Nicotine Analogue Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Strategic Insights -

Researchers have expressed concern about the rapidly expanding market of e-cigarettes and synthetic nicotine analogues, particularly among adolescents and young adults (AYA). A recent study conducted among US participants aged 14 to 25 years (N = 1760) found that awareness and use of nicotine analogue products were appreciable and overrepresented among tobacco product-using AYA. The study's findings highlight the need for pediatric care, youth-focused interventions, and regulatory actions to protect AYA from the potential harms of nicotine analogue products.

Key Takeaways:

  • A cross-sectional survey conducted among 1760 US participants aged 14 to 25 years found that 20.1% of AYA were aware of nicotine analogue vaping products, while 8.4% had ever used them.
  • Awareness and ever-use of nicotine analogue products were higher among ever-tobacco-product-using AYA, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.74 and 24.91, respectively.
  • The study found no significant differences in awareness and ever-use of nicotine analogue products among different demographic categories, except for lower odds among non-Hispanic white individuals.
  • The study's findings suggest that local regulatory actions may be needed to protect AYA from nicotine analogue products, given their potential addictiveness and toxicity.

Statistics:

  • 20.1% of AYA were aware of nicotine analogue vaping products.
  • 8.4% of AYA had ever used nicotine analogue products.
  • 24.4% of ever-tobacco-product-using AYA were aware of nicotine analogue products, compared to 14.8% of never-tobacco-product-using AYA.
  • 14.7% of ever-tobacco-product-using AYA had ever used nicotine analogue products, compared to 0.6% of never-tobacco-product-using AYA.

Sources:

  • NewsRx, "Findings on Pediatrics Reported by Investigators at University of Southern California (USC) (Awareness and Use of Vaping Products With a Nicotine Analogue Among Adolescents and Young Adults)."
  • Pediatrics Week, November 1, 2025; p 183.
  • Awareness and Use of Vaping Products With a Nicotine Analogue Among Adolescents and Young Adults. Pediatrics, 2025;156(2).
  • University of Southern California (USC), Dept Populat & Publ Hlth Sci, Los Angeles, CA, United States.