Characteristics associated with device type used among middle school and high school students who currently used...

In 2023, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among US middle and high school students, with most reporting use of disposable devices. This study assessed characteristics associated with device type use among youth currently using e-cigarettes.

Data from the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey were used to describe and compare select demographic characteristics, e-cigarette use patterns, and other tobacco use by device type groups (disposable vs. non-disposable [pods, cartridges, tanks, mods]) among youth who currently use (past 30-day) e-cigarettes. Adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated to assess the associations of device type with different characteristics.

Among youth currently using e-cigarettes, more disposable users reported any sweet flavor use (82.1 % vs. 66.3 %), while fewer reported use of any menthol flavor (18.7 % vs. 36.1 %) or any tobacco-flavored/unflavored products (11.0 % vs. 19.3 %) compared to non-disposable users. After adjusting for covariates, youth using sweet flavors (adjusted PR [aPR]:1.30, 95 %CI: 1.08, 1.56), other flavors (aPR:1.17, 95 %CI: 1.04, 1.33), or who got their e-cigarettes themselves (aPR:1.13, 95 %CI: 1.01, 1.25) had a higher prevalence of disposable e-cigarette use compared to non-disposable, whereas those using menthol flavor (aPR:0.77, 95 %CI: 0.59, 1.00), tobacco-flavored/unflavored products (aPR:0.86, 95 %CI: 0.75, 1.00), or who got their e-cigarettes from a friend (aPR:0.85, 95 %CI: 0.76, 0.97) had a lower prevalence of disposable e-cigarette use.

The present study found differences in reported flavor type and access to e-cigarettes between disposable and non-disposable e-cigarette users. These results highlight the appeal and accessibility of disposable e-cigarettes among youth, particularly those in sweet flavors.