Association Between Initial Use of e-Cigarettes and Subsequent Cigarette Smoking Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract

The prevalence of e-cigarette use has risen rapidly since introduction of this product to the United States in 2007. Quiz Ref ID Among US high school students, the prevalence of past 30-day use of e-cigarettes increased 10-fold from 1.5% in 2011 to 16.0% in 2015, when the prevalence of past 30-day e-cigarette use in this population exceeded its prevalence of past 30-day cigarette smoking (9.3%).¹ e-Cigarette use occurs at an appreciable prevalence among both cigarette-smoking and never cigarette-smoking youth.^2-4 Furthermore, longitudinal studies^5-10 have reported that e-cigarette use is associated with an increased risk of cigarette smoking initiation among never cigarette-smoking adolescents and young adults even after adjusting for known demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral risk factors. Recently, the US Surgeon General noted this increased risk as an important public health concern.¹¹