Adolescents' perceptions, experiences, and reactions to "fake" vaping devices

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Substance Use

Background:

• Electronic cigarette (vaping) devices, used for nicotine, cannabis, or other substances, pose health risks to adolescents.
• These risks are amplified by "fake" vaping devices, which are inauthentic, counterfeit, or adulterated, as seen during the 2019-2020 Electronic Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) outbreak.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate adolescent perceptions and experiences with fake vaping products.
• To understand how young people become aware of and react to counterfeit vaping devices.

Main Methods:

• In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 47 California adolescents (ages 13-17) who used nicotine products.
• Thematic analysis was used to examine participants' views on fake vaping devices for nicotine or cannabis.

Main Results:

• Adolescents are familiar with fake vaping devices, perceiving them as low-quality and dangerous, learning about them through peers, personal experience, social media, and school.
• While some believed they could identify fake products, others felt encountering them was unavoidable. Awareness of specific health emergencies like EVALI was limited.
• Participants attributed the prevalence of fake products to profit motives, particularly from informal sellers, and trusted that companies and government agencies offered protection.

Conclusions:

• Adolescents' awareness and encounters with fake vaping devices present significant health risks.
• Enhanced public messaging and interventions to reduce the supply of counterfeit vaping products are crucial for protecting adolescent health.