Commentary: Forces That Drive the Vape Shop Industry and Implications for the Health Professions

Steve Sussman; Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati; Robert Garcia; Dianne C Barker; Jonathan M Samet; Adam Leventhal; Jennifer B Unger

doi:10.1177/0163278715586295

Commentary: Forces That Drive the Vape Shop Industry and Implications for the Health Professions

Eval Health Prof. 2016 Sep;39(3):379-88. doi: 10.1177/0163278715586295. Epub 2015 May 11.

Authors

Steve Sussman¹, Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati², Robert Garcia³, Dianne C Barker⁴, Jonathan M Samet³, Adam Leventhal⁵, Jennifer B Unger³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA ssussma@usc.edu.
² Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA Department of Sociology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
³ Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁴ Barker Bi-Coastal Health Consultants, Inc., Calabasas, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Abstract

At least three factors may be driving the evolution of the vape shop industry, a rapidly growing market sector that specializes in the sales of electronic cigarettes: (1) the tobacco industry, (2) the public health sector and its diverse stakeholders, and (3) consumer demand. These influences and the responses of the vape shop sector have resulted in a rapidly changing landscape. This commentary briefly discusses these three factors and the implications for the health professions, as they address the vape shop industry and its consequences for public health.

Keywords: electronic cigarettes; health; vape shops.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / economics*
Health Personnel
Humans
Professional Role*
Public Health*
Tobacco Industry / organization & administration*
Vaping / economics*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding