Most Adolescent E-cigarette Users Try to Quit on Their Own Rather Than Use Vaping Cessation Programs: Study

A majority of adolescents who use e-cigarettes and attempted to quit tried to stop without outside help, while others turned to their friends, parents or the internet for help, according to a study published in the November 2023 Pediatrics. The study, “Adoption of Vaping Cessation Methods by U.S. Adolescent E-cigarette Users” (published online Oct. 2) analyzed the prevalence and associations of socioeconomic factors, vaping behaviors and harm perception with the adoption of different vaping cessation methods. Researchers found nearly 68% of 1,436 e-cigarette users had attempted at least once in the prior year to quit the practice but few enlisted help from a formal vaping cessation treatment program, according to data from the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey(NYTS). About 63% of the 889 adolescents who had tried to quit vaping over the prior year, reported that they did not use any resources (unassisted quitting). The four top cessation methods were peer support (14.2%), help on the Internet (6.4%), a mobile app or text messaging (5.9%), and parent support (5.8%). Sex differences, cultural and sexual minority background, and vaping experience were the most influential factors in adolescents' preference for vaping cessation methods. For instance, female vapers were less likely to solicit parent support, while Hispanic vapers were more likely to seek friend support, according to the study. Dual users of e-cigarettes and any other tobacco product were more likely than sole e-cigarette users to get help from a teacher or coach; a doctor or health care provider; or treatment from medical facilities. The authors recommend the development of tailored approaches to meet the cessation needs and preferences of the adolescent vaping population. 

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.