Adolescent Use and Perceptions of JUUL and Other Pod-Style e-Cigarettes: A Qualitative Study to Inform Prevention

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Tobacco Control

Background:

• JUUL and similar e-cigarettes are popular among adolescents, delivering high nicotine levels.
• Limited research exists on the social and environmental factors driving adolescent use of pod-style e-cigarettes.
• Understanding these influences is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine individual, social, and environmental factors shaping adolescent use of JUUL and other pod-style e-cigarettes.
• To explore perceptions and experiences related to e-cigarette use among middle and high school students.
• To identify key influences contributing to the initiation and continuation of adolescent vaping.

Main Methods:

• Conducted six focus groups with 29 middle and high school students in June 2019.
• Stratified groups by e-cigarette use status and grade level.
• Employed thematic analysis to code focus group transcripts for contributing factors.

Main Results:

• Most adolescent JUUL users reported negative initial experiences (e.g., throat irritation, coughing).
• Continued use was attributed to stress relief and nicotine addiction.
• Social factors (peer/parental influence, accessibility) and environmental factors (conflicting health messages, lack of school policies/resources) significantly influenced use.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent e-cigarette use is shaped by a complex interplay of individual, social, and environmental factors.
• Schools and communities must address these influences through policy review, enhanced education, and accessible cessation resources.
• Targeted interventions are needed to mitigate the impact of JUUL and pod-style e-cigarette use on adolescent health.