Substances used in electronic vapor products among adults in the United States, 2017

Electronic vapor products (EVPs), including e-cigarettes, can be used to aerosolize many substances. Examination of substances used in EVPs by US adults has been limited; we assessed past-year use of EVPs to deliver various substances.

Data came from the 2017 SummerStyles Survey, a web-based survey of US adults (N = 4107). Ever EVP users were asked if they had used nicotine, marijuana, flavors or "something else" in an EVP during the past year. Weighted estimates for any, exclusive, and combined EVP substance use were calculated among ever (n = 586) and current (past 30-day; n = 121) EVP users.

Past-year use of nicotine, flavors, and marijuana in EVPs was 30.7%, 23.6%, and 12.5% among ever EVP users, respectively; and 72.3%, 54.6%, and 17.8% among current EVP users. Among ever EVP users, the most commonly used substances were nicotine only (29.6%), nicotine plus flavors (27.2%), flavors only (16.4%), and marijuana only (14.9%). Among current EVP users, the most common substances used were nicotine plus flavors (39.1%), nicotine only (29.6%), and flavors only (11.2%). Among ever users, males and 18-29 year olds were more likely to report use of flavors than females and respondents ≥30 years.

Approximately 7 in 10 current EVP users reported nicotine use, about 1 in 2 used flavors, and nearly 1 in 6 used marijuana. These findings suggest that EVPs are used to consume a variety of substances and could guide efforts to address tobacco and non-tobacco substance use.