Tobacco Product Promotions Exacerbate Youth Tobacco Product Use Among US Adolescents

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in the Journal of Nicotine & Tobacco Research has found that the decline in tobacco smoking among US adolescents has been exceeded by the exponential rise in nicotine vaping, resulting in a net gain in youth tobacco product use. While cigarette companies are restricted from advertising on television and radio, vaping promotions have been largely unrestricted, leading to a significant association between exposure to tobacco product promotions and tobacco product use and susceptibility to use among adolescents.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study examined exposure to tobacco product promotions in a US sample of 1003 adolescents and its associations with product use and susceptibility to use.
  • Tobacco product use was 34% ever-use and 20% current-use among the study participants.
  • A majority of the participants (91% for cigarettes and 80% for nicotine vaping) had seen tobacco product promotions in the past 30 days, with most reporting exposure at point-of-sale and on major media platforms (television, cinema, and social media).
  • Greater exposure to tobacco product promotions was significantly associated with ever and current smoking and vaping, and among never-users, susceptibility to vaping (all p<0.01).
  • The study concluded that stricter regulatory restrictions on tobacco marketing to young people are warranted.

Statistics:

  • 1003 adolescents participated in the study, which was conducted in 2019.
  • 34% of the participants had ever used a tobacco product (smoked cigarettes or vaped nicotine).
  • 20% of the participants were current users of tobacco products.
  • 91% of participants had seen cigarette product promotions in the past 30 days.
  • 80% of participants had seen nicotine vaping product promotions in the past 30 days.
  • The study found a significant association between exposure to tobacco product promotions and tobacco product use (p<0.01).

Sources:

  • Tobacco Products Promotions Remain Ubiquitous and Are Associated with Use and Susceptibility to Use Among Adolescents. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2021;23(2):397-401.
  • Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England. (Oxford University Press - www.oup.com/; Nicotine & Tobacco Research - ntr.oxfordjournals.org)
  • Stanford University, Stanford University, Dept. of Medicine, Medical School Office Building, X316, 1265 Welch Rd, Stanford, CA 94305, United States.