Teens, Young Adults More Likely to Persist in Using E-Cigarettes if They Are Using Disposable Devices, Which Are Cheaper and Flavored

Teens and young adults who use disposable e-cigarettes are more likely to persist in using e-cigarettes after eight months as compared to those who use non-disposable devices that must be recharged or refilled with e-cigarette liquid or pods, according to a study published in the April 2024 Pediatrics. The study, “Disposable E-Cigarette Use and Subsequent Use Patterns in Adolescents and Young Adults,” (published online March 11), notes that disposable e-cigarettes come in colorful packaging and designs, are fairly new to the market, can feature various sweet flavors and be used discreetly and be easily concealed – unlike the non-disposable devices that have been marketed and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for several years.  Researchers reviewed survey data from 403 adolescents (ages 14-17) and young adults (ages 21-24) in Southern California who reported e-cigarette use in the past 30 days. Disposable e-cigarette devices were the most frequently used e-cigarettes (69.0%), followed by vape pens (61.8%), rechargeable pod/cartridge (42.2%), tank/mods (24.6%), and another device type (3.7%). Participants using disposable devices were more likely to continue to use e-cigarettes and reported greater number of times used per day, as compared with those who used non-disposable devices. Disposable e-cigarettes typically contain solutions with high concentrations of nicotine salt formulation, which could result in substantial nicotine delivery. The authors suggest the need for policies that comprehensively regulate the spectrum of nicotine products used by young people, including disposable e-cigarettes.

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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.