Electronic nicotine delivery systems: adult use and awareness of the ‘e-cigarette’ in the USA

TLDR

Electronic nicotine delivery systems entered the US market in 2007, but little is known about adult awareness and use, and current smokers who try them do not report higher quit intentions. A consumer‑based mail‑in survey (ConsumerStyles) of 10,587 adults in 2009 and 10,328 in 2010 was used to track ENDS awareness, ever use, past‑month use, and demographic and tobacco‑use characteristics. Awareness of ENDS doubled from 16.4 % to 32.2 % and ever use quadrupled from 0.6 % to 2.7 % between 2009 and 2010, with higher use among women, lower‑educated individuals, and current smokers, yet no increase in quit intentions, underscoring the need for continued monitoring.

Abstract

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), also referred to as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, were introduced into the US market in 2007. Despite concerns regarding the long-term health impact of this product, there is little known about awareness and use of ENDS among adults in the USA.A consumer-based mail-in survey (ConsumerStyles) was completed by 10,587 adults (≥ 18 years) in 2009 and 10,328 adults in 2010. Data from these surveys were used to monitor awareness, ever use and past month use of ENDS from 2009 to 2010 and to assess demographic characteristics and tobacco use of ENDS users.In this US sample, awareness of ENDS doubled from 16.4% in 2009 to 32.2% in 2010 and ever use more than quadrupled from 2009 (0.6%) to 2010 (2.7%). Ever use of ENDS was most common among women and those with lower education, although these were not the groups who had heard of ENDS most often. Current smokers and tobacco users were most likely to try ENDS. However, current smokers who had tried ENDS did not say they planned to quit smoking more often than smokers who had never tried them.Given the large increase in awareness and ever use of ENDS during this 1-year period and the unknown impact of ENDS use on cigarette smoking behaviours and long-term health, continued monitoring of these products is needed.