Electronic cigarette dependence and demand among pod mod users as a function of smoking status

Psychol Addict Behav. 2020 Nov;34(7):804-810. doi: 10.1037/adb0000583. Epub 2020 Apr 16.

Abstract

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use continues to proliferate with fast-paced product evolution. Pod mod e-cigarettes emerged in the market in 2015 and have changed the tobacco landscape again. However, little is known regarding their addiction potential among users. The current study describes e-cigarette dependence and demand among pod mod users as a function of smoking status (current smokers/dual users, former smokers, and never smokers). Participants were 593 young adult (Mage = 25.9 years) JUUL users recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Respondents were specifically recruited based on current use of pod mods (but may also be using other e-cigarette devices) and smoking status (never, former, and current/dual users). Participants completed online measures assessing e-cigarette dependence and demand. Dual users of pod mods and cigarettes displayed greater e-cigarette dependence compared to current pod mod users with no history of cigarette smoking (p = .033). Similarly, dual users showed the greatest levels of e-cigarette demand compared to both former smokers and those without a history of smoking (ps < .05). Dual users displayed the greatest e-cigarette dependence and demand. Future research should directly assess potential mechanisms for this effect and continue to monitor e-cigarette dependence as the tobacco landscape changes with the emergence of new e-cigarette products and innovations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Behavior, Addictive
  • Cigarette Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Commerce
  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
  • Ex-Smokers / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Non-Smokers / statistics & numerical data
  • Smokers / statistics & numerical data
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Tobacco Products
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Vaping / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult