Predictors of E-Cigarette Quit Attempts and Cessation in Young Adults

Young adults, aged 18 to 24 years old, vape more than any other age group. Vaping is concerning due to health harms associated with nicotine and toxicant inhalation and potential for use to lead to smoking. Evidence on vaping cessation is limited. Using data from Wave 6 (2021) and Wave 7 (2022-2023) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, we examined factors associated with a vaping quit attempt and cessation.

Participants were included if they were 18 to 24 years old, vaped regularly in 2021, and had a follow-up in 2022 to 2023. Numerous variables were assessed for an association with a vaping quit attempt or cessation.

In 2022 to 2023, 62.4% of young adults who vaped made a quit attempt and 18.6% quit. Making a quit attempt was associated with higher harm perceptions of e-cigarettes (odds ratio, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.13-1.84) and nicotine (odds ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.11-1.64) and close family and friend disapproval (odds ratio, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.87-3.43). Dual use was associated with lower odds of a quit attempt (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.38-0.90). Vaping cessation was less likely in individuals with daily use (odds ratio, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.30-0.69) and in-home e-cigarette allowance (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.37-0.91). Use of quit methods was low, and cigarette substitution was the only method positively associated with vaping cessation (odds ratio, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.15-5.95).

Almost two-thirds of young adults tried to quit vaping, and concerningly, the only method associated with cessation was substituting combustible cigarettes. There is an urgent need to develop safe and effective vaping cessation treatments for young adults.