Vape Shops Research Articles

Desorption efficiency and holding capacity of acid-treated filters for nicotine sampling in vape shops.

Efficient sampling materials are essential for assessing nicotine levels in vape shops and other settings where nicotine exposures may exist. Two different treatments of Whatman glass fiber type A (GF/A) filters (sodium bisulfate treated and citric acid treated) were evaluated for nicotine capture, desorption efficiency, and holding capacity using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The Filters were treated with 0.8mL of 0.1 M sodium bisulfate or citric acid solution and oven-dried (80 °C) for 30min. Nicotine was desorbed off the filters using a modified analytical method. The average nicotine desorption efficiency for sodium bisulfate-treated GF/A filters (98.4%) was significantly higher than that of citric acid-treated GF/A filters (60.9%) over a range of 1-100 µg nicotine. Sodium bisulfate-treated and citric acid-treated GF/A filters experienced a 10% nicotine breakthrough after being dosed with about 550 and 2,750 µg of nicotine, respectively compared to 75 µg for untreated GF/A filters. Citric acid-treated GF/A filters had a much greater nicotine-holding capacity, but nicotine desorption from citric acid-treated GF/A filters was below the recommended criteria. Therefore, we recommend that sodium bisulfate-treated GF/A filters are employed for sample of nicotine with the GC-MS method.

Derived cannabinoid product availability among online vape shops

ObjectivesTo determine the proportion of online vape shops that offer derived cannabinoid products in a large metropolitan area (San Diego, California), measure their compliance with state hemp regulations, and estimate whether these shops receive more website traffic compared to those that offered nicotine or tobacco. MethodsWe obtained vape shops (n = 109) using browser-based (i.e., Google Search) and map-based (i.e., Google Maps and Yelp) searches in San Diego from March to August 2023 and conducted a content analysis of their websites to identify derived cannabinoid products offered for mail-order purchasing. Using website traffic data, we examined the association between derived cannabinoid product availability and monthly website visits. ResultsAmong the 109 online vape shops in the study sample, 35.8 % offered derived cannabinoid products for mail-order purchase and 26.6 % sold flavored (excluding terpenes) and inhalable cannabinoid products. Compared to vape shops that did not offer derived cannabinoid products (Mean: 23,619; 95 % CI: 23,605–23,634), those offering flavored and inhalable cannabinoid products received 2.5 times more monthly website visits (Mean: 57,950; 95 % CI: 57,913–57,986) and those offering any derived cannabinoid products received 5.5 times more monthly website visits (Mean: 130,694; 95 % CI: 130,607–130,782). ConclusionThe prevalence of flavored and inhalable derived cannabinoid products, despite being prohibited under California’s hemp regulations, highlights the need for additional enforcement measures to ensure retailer compliance. The higher website traffic observed among vape shops offering cannabinoid products may be indicative of greater popularity of retailers selling derived cannabinoid products compared to those selling nicotine or tobacco products alone.

Prevalence and correlates of e-cigarette source and use of e-cigarettes with nicotine: A case study of Mexico, where e-cigarettes are banned

BackgroundLow- and middle-income countries have increasingly banned e-cigarettes, as in Mexico. In these countries, little is known about where adults obtain e-cigarettes or who uses e-cigarettes with nicotine. MethodsData were analyzed from eight online surveys of Mexican adults who both smoked and used e-cigarettes (November 2018-March 2021; n = 2,060). For the e-cigarette they used most often, participants reported how they acquired it (social sources=reference; online purchase; vape shop purchase; other retail purchase) and if it contained nicotine (no=reference group; yes; don't know). Multinomial models regressed each of these outcomes on smoking- and e-cigarette-related factors, as well as sociodemographics. ResultsAlmost half the sample (45.9 %) reported obtaining their e-cigarettes from social sources, with online purchase being the second most common source (28.7 %). Being male, having recently attempted to quit smoking, and more frequent e-cigarette use were positively associated with purchasing e-cigarettes (vs social sources) across all venues. Most reported that their e-cigarettes contained nicotine (58.2 %), a third reported using e-cigarettes without nicotine (35.9 %), and some did not know (5.8 %). More frequent smoking and e-cigarette use, using closed e-cigarette devices and purchasing e-cigarettes online were positively associated with using e-cigarettes with nicotine. ConclusionsDespite Mexico's e-cigarette ban, adults who smoke access e-cigarettes through multiple sources, including online and vape shop purchases. Most participants reported using e-cigarettes with nicotine, though many did not or did not know.

Categorizing E-cigarette-related tweets using BERT topic modeling

BackgroundSocial media platforms are critical channels for promoting e-cigarettes, particularly among youth, making analysis of their vast and diverse content essential for public health interventions. Prevalence rates of e-cigarette use are high and evidence suggests that social media are popular forums that promote e-cigarette use through direct and indirect marketing techniques. The volume and diverse nature of e-cigarette-related information on social media is challenging and may obfuscate public health prevention messaging. Traditional hand-coding methods are labor-intensive and limit scalability. In contrast, unsupervised machine learning approaches, such as topic modeling, allow for efficient analysis of large datasets, uncovering patterns and trends that manual methods cannot achieve at scale. The present study focused on ascertaining the extent to which themes and topics in tweets related to e-cigarettes can be successfully rendered into useful homogenous units using machine learning. A better understanding of current depictions and discussions around e-cigarette products and use on social media can inform public health counter messaging and policy interventions. MethodsWe used topic modeling (BERTopic) to iteratively derive vape-related tweet clusters and calculate the importance of particular words to these groupings. We conducted a qualitative content analysis to study clustered tweets. We also sought to determine the geographic locations of e-cigarette conversations using automated geoparsing methods, which translate toponyms in textual data into geographic identifiers, to attempt to infer the location of tweets. ResultsWe were able to successfully identify >100,000 tweets in broad thematic categories in English and Spanish. Our correlation and inter-topic map analysis of the machine-derived topics, which examines the relationships between topics, indicated that most of the topics were unique (correlation value < 0.5) and did not overlap with each other. We identified six topics: Flavors and Disposable Vapes, Cannabis, Vape Shops and Refillable Vapes, Vape Culture, Anti-vaping and Quitting, and Spanish Tweets and Vaping Nicotine. Further analysis of these topics using qualitative methods identified themes within each topic. For example, Category 6 (Spanish Tweets and Vaping Nicotine) included four topics focused on the health risks of vaping, personal motivations for vaping, and the regulation of vaping products. Using geoparsing, which automatically detects location information, we found that the United States had the highest number of tweets related to vaping. Discussion/conclusionResults underscore the possibility of leveraging BERTopic modeling to reduce large quantities of data to comprehensively describe and categorize myriad e-cigarette related messages to which social media users are exposed. This data reduction approach can be applied to various social media platforms to describe and categorize e-cigarette posts and thereby triangulate and validate findings. Thematic content analysis of the topics identified through this technique requires supervision and human inputs. Our approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the evolving e-cigarette discourse, informing public health counter-messaging and policy interventions. Moreover, findings support the need for regulation, such as reducing appealing flavors and suggest that social media can be used effectively to support public health messaging (i.e., quitting messages).

STRATEGI KOMUNIKASI ORGANISASI DALAM MENINGKATKAN KINERJA KARYAWAN CANGKRUK VAPE SHOP SIDOARJO

This study examines the organizational communication strategies used by Cangkruk Vape Shop to improve employee performance, which are deemed ineffective in enhancing employee motivation, as evidenced by frequent tardiness and suboptimal work performance. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method. Data was collected through interviews with the shop owner, manager, store supervisor, and three operational staff of Cangkruk Vape Shop Sidoarjo. The main focus of the research is to identify and analyze the forms of communication strategies, both vertical and horizontal, used to improve employee performance. Data collection techniques include observation, interviews, and documentation. The research findings indicate that vertical and horizontal communication is used to create a positive work environment. This communication enhances employee work ethic and evaluates their performance through nine indicators. Improvements in employee performance are seen in increased creativity, initiative, and discipline.

Examining differences in real-world effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation by source of purchase in England: an observational study of different contexts before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation may differ by source of purchase. The changing influence of self-selection on purchase location caused by COVID-19 pandemic-related vape shop closures means we can examine the association between smoking abstinence e-cigarette use by purchase source and test for moderation of this association by the timing of the pandemic. Repeat-cross-sectional nationally representative surveys, conducted between January-2017 and August-2023. Participants (N=1,284; ≥18y, 46.9% women) who made a past-year quit attempt, used an e-cigarette in their most recent attempt, currently vaping and provided data on the purchase source were included. The association between e-cigarette purchase source and continuous abstinence following the most recent quit attempt was assessed with adjusted regression, including an interaction between the timing of pandemic restrictions (March-2020 through January-2022). Overall, 48.1% usually purchasing their e-cigarettes from vape shops, declining from 53.6% pre-pandemic to 40.6% during the pandemic. There was inconclusive evidence that those purchasing from vape shops had greater odds of quitting smoking (ORadj=1.25, 95%CI 0.92-1.76). The association between purchase source and successful quitting did not depend upon whether purchasing occurred before or during the pandemic (F=0.08, pinteraction=0.774; pre-pandemic: ORadj=1.23, 0.79-1.91; and pandemic: ORadj=1.29, 0.81-2.06). More data are needed to conclusively determine whether purchasing from a specialist vape shop increases smoking cessation. Given the changing influence of self-selection on purchase location caused by the pandemic, the similar associations between purchase source and quit success across both periods suggests it is unlikely an artefact of unmeasured confounding. It is important to know if where e-cigarettes are purchased can increase their effectiveness for smoking cessation. While we found a positive association between purchasing from a specialist vape shop and abstinence rates, the results were inconclusive. Further studies are required to establish whether purchasing from specialist vape shops improves smoking cessation outcomes compared with other purchase sources.

Intoxicating Cannabis Products in Vape Shops: United States, 2023

IntroductionSince 2020, many types of intoxicating cannabis products (ICPs) have entered the US market. Hemp-derived ICPs including hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) pose concerns regarding their youth-oriented marketing, potency, and health effects. Some states have attempted to ban, restrict, or regulate their sale. However, the effectiveness of these laws and their enforcement is unclear. The current study provides insights into the retail landscape of ICPs sold across the US. MethodsIn November-December 2023, researchers systematically identified, called, and completed brief surveys with 520 US vape shops: (n=10 per state, n=10 in D.C., n=10 in Puerto Rico). The survey assessed the availability of 6 commonly-sold ICPs. Data were analyzed by regulatory context. Analyses were conducted in 2024. Results74% of vape shops sold any ICPs. ICPs were sold in 43% of shops in states with delta-8 THC bans, 53% in states with substantial regulations (intended to support safe use), 90% in states with significant restrictions (intended to limit potency/availability), and 92% in states with limited/no regulations. ICPs were sold in vape shops in each state except Washington and Alaska, both of which banned hemp-derived ICPs and had active retail of legalized non-medical cannabis. ConclusionsTaking licensed dispensaries into consideration, ICPs can be purchased in retail stores located in all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. ICPs are widely available in vape shops, even in most states with relevant bans/restrictions. Enhanced laws, surveillance, and enforcement are needed. The 2024 Farm Bill and state laws should explicitly prohibit hemp-derived ICPs.

Modification of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Among Adolescents and Young Adults.

We assessed awareness and perceptions of, information sources about, and engagement in modifying electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) among adolescents and young adults (AYAs). AYAs (N = 1018) endorsing past-month ENDS use completed a survey on awareness and use of the following modifications: (1) refilling rechargeable cartridges/pods or (2) disposable pods, (3) rewicking or (4) recharging disposable pods, (5) modifying nicotine e-liquids (eg, changing propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin, nicotine), (6) combining nicotine and cannabis for simultaneous vaping, and (7) putting cannabis in ENDS designed for nicotine vaping. Logistic regression assessed how sources of information (eg, friends, social media, nonsocial media Web sites, vape shops) about and perceptions of ENDS modifications associated with ENDS modifications. Refilling (69.0% heard, 40.1% tried) and recharging the battery (66.4% heard, 35.8% tried) of disposable pods were most common. Friends (64.4%) and social media (46.7%) were the most common sources of information. Notable significant associations between information sources and modifications were: 1. nonsocial media Web sites and vape shops with rewicking and recharging disposable devices and modifying nicotine e-liquid; 2. nonsocial media Web sites with refilling rechargeable cartridges/pods and disposable pods; and 3. social media with recharging disposable devices and mixing nicotine and cannabis liquids. Perceptions of reduced harm and "coolness" were associated with various modifications. AYAs are aware of and modify ENDS for purposes unintended by manufacturers. ENDS policies should consider unintended ENDS use to safeguard public health. Prevention efforts should communicate about the potential harms of ENDS modifications.

Evaluating trends in recruitment challenges in vape shop research, e-cigarette product characteristics and use among shop customers from 2019 to 2023: A mixed-methods study.

Brick-and-mortar vape shops specialize in the sale of e-cigarettes and remain a primary source for purchasing emerging e-cigarette products. New regulatory policies have been implemented at local-, state- and federal-level; the retail environment at vape shops and product preferences among vape shop customers shifted accordingly. From 2019 to 2023, we collected anonymous interview data from vape shop customers (n=572) from 83 vape shops in Southern California. We aggregated the data by month and treated each month as the unit of analysis to document changes in recruitment efforts among the vape shops in relation to major policy implementations over 4 years. We also examined the systematic fluctuations and trends in customers' e-cigarette product preferences and nicotine content in these products. The monthly average shop-level consent rate was 52.9% (SD=8.7), with an overall decreasing trend over time. It was necessary for our data collection team to approach a greater number of vape shops to obtain consent with implementation of various state and federal tobacco regulations and following COVID-19. We observed an increase in the purchase of disposable products and nicotine concentrations in the products, while the average use frequency remained the same. Our findings demonstrated that user preferences, product characteristics and challenges in research involving vape shops are closely associated to changes in regulations. We documented a dramatic increase in nicotine concentration in products. Future policies restricting the amount of nicotine in tobacco products at the federal level are necessary to protect consumers from further nicotine addiction. This study provides documentation over time of the drastic increases in nicotine concentration among e-cigarette users as a result of the fluctuations in the product market. Regulating nicotine content in tobacco products could safeguard against further unsafe modifications in e-cigarettes and other types of tobacco products.

Relationship Between Product Features and the Prices of e-Cigarette Devices Sold in Web-Based Vape Shops: Comparison Study Using a Linear Regression Model.

Open-system electronic cigarette (EC) product features, such as battery capacity, maximum output wattage, and so forth, are major components that drive product costs and may influence use patterns. Moreover, continued innovation and monitoring of product features and prices will provide critical information for designing appropriate taxation policies and product regulations. This study will examine how product features are associated with the prices of devices sold in web-based vape shops. We draw samples from 5 popular, US-based, web-based vape shops from April to August 2022 to examine starter kits, device-only products, and e-liquid container-only products. We implemented a linear regression model with a store-fixed effect to examine the association between device attributes and prices. EC starter kits or devices vary significantly by type, with mod prices being much higher than pod and vape pen prices. The prices of mod starter kits were even lower than those of mod devices, suggesting that mod starter kits are discounted in web-based vape shops. The price of mod kits, mod device-only products, and pod kits increased as the battery capacity and output wattage increased. For vape pens, the price was positively associated with the volume size of the e-liquid container. On the other hand, the price of pod kits was positively associated with the number of containers. A unit-based specific tax, therefore, will impose a higher tax burden on lower-priced devices such as vape pens or pod systems and a lower tax burden on mod devices. A volume- or capacity-based specific tax on devices will impose a higher tax burden on vape pens with a larger container size. Meanwhile, ad valorem taxes pegged to wholesale or retail prices would apply evenly across device types, meaning those with advanced features such as higher battery capacities and output wattage would face higher rates. Therefore, policy makers could manipulate tax rates by device type to discourage the use of certain device products.

Developing a Vape Shop-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention: A Delphi Study.

Providing access to a vape shop-based smoking cessation intervention may simultaneously increase e-cigarette use and increase the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. The aim of this study was to identify the most important elements of vape shop-based smoking intervention to stakeholders who would be involved in delivering or accessing such an intervention. We conducted a three-round Delphi study of vape shop staff (n = 40), stop smoking professionals and tobacco control leads (n = 30), and smokers, vapers, and dual users (n = 30) in the United Kingdom in May-August 2021. In each round participants were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with statements related to vape shop-based interventions. Forty-six of 95 statements reached consensus in round 1, 29 out of 49 in round 2, and 8 out of 20 in round 3. There was support for a vape shop-based intervention across stakeholder groups (96%). There was consensus that the service should comprise both product (98%) and behavioral support (97%), and that quitting vaping should not be a goal of the service (79%). Although there was consensus that there should be some free product provision, there was less consensus as to what this should involve. Views were mostly consistent across stakeholder groups. There was broad consensus on how to deliver a vape shop-based smoking cessation intervention, providing a strong basis for future intervention development and implementation. Challenges around misuse of the service and misperceptions about vaping would need to be addressed for such an intervention to be feasible and effective. Many smokers who make a quit attempt using e-cigarettes purchase their vaping products in vape shops. Delivering vape-shop-based smoking cessation interventions could help to maximize the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for quitting smoking. This study used a Delphi approach to identify the most important elements of a vape shop-based intervention among stakeholders. The findings could be used to help develop future interventions.

Adult harm perceptions, purchase, and use related to synthetic vs. tobacco-derived nicotine vaping products: A mixed-methods study

ObjectiveSynthetic nicotine (SN) e-cigarettes emerged on the market as an alternative to tobacco-derived nicotine (TDN) vaping products. It is critical to understand the harm perceptions, purchase, and use of SN vs. TDN e-cigarettes. MethodsFrom November 2021 to February 2023, we conducted intercept interviews with 263 adult customers at 37 vape shops in Southern California. Self-reported use and harm perceptions towards SN vs TDN e-cigarettes were examined. A qualitative analysis of researcher-obtained photographs of vaping items just purchased by customer participants was conducted. ResultsPast 30-day SN e-cigarette use was reported by 44 (16.7 %) customers. Past 30-day SN e-cigarette users vs. non-users reported vaping on more days in the past month (29.3 vs. 26.1 days, p = 0.02). Overall, 23.8 % of participants perceived SN e-cigarettes as less harmful than TDN ones; never-smoking vapers and dual users perceived SN e-cigarettes as less harmful than salt-based TDN e-cigarettes. Among 44 customers who purchased SN products (verified through qualitative analysis of photographs), only 13 (29.6 %) self-reported using SN products in the past month, while 5 (11.4 %) indicated they were not aware of the existence of SN products. Most SN vaping products (71.4 %) displayed a modified “tobacco-free” warning label. ConclusionsMisperceptions about SN e-cigarettes were documented in this study, including the perception that SN is either less or more harmful than TDN. Further, some customers may be unknowingly purchasing and using SN e-cigarettes. Regulating “tobacco-free nicotine“ terminology in SN vaping products marketing is suggested. SN product labeling should not imply that SN is safe/safer than TDN.

Content Analysis of E-mail Marketing Communications Among Online E-cigarette Retailers.

Online e-cigarette retailers use e-mail communications to promote products directly to consumers, which may facilitate e-cigarette use. Little is known about the content of these e-mails. As such, this study collected e-mails from online e-cigarette retailers in California to conduct a content analysis. This study included 13 online e-cigarette retailers in California using Yelp. To be included in the study, e-cigarette retailers needed a live website, physical retail location (ie, vape shop), and e-cigarettes available for purchase online. The research team entered each website and signed up (if possible) for an e-mail newsletter. Data were collected from the Gmail Application Programming Interface over a 1-year study period (November 1, 2021-November 1, 2022). Members of the research team coded e-mails for the presence of e-cigarettes, other products, flavors, marketing categories, and promotional activities, among other variables. Seven hundred and forty-nine promotional e-mails (2.1 avg/day) were received over the 1-year study period. Second-generation e-cigarettes (n = 581, 77.6%) were the most observed product in e-mails followed by disposable e-cigarettes (n = 391, 52.2%). The most common flavor profile was fruit or sweet or liquor (n = 424, 56.6%). E-mails included links to social media pages (n = 366, 48.9%). Online coupons were found in 53.1% (n = 398) of the e-mails. Age warnings were displayed in 8.0% (n = 60) of the e-mails. E-cigarette retailers' e-mails promoted new products, flavors, and contained promotional discounts. Future research should examine the impact of exposure to such e-mails on e-cigarette-related attitudes and behaviors. Findings from this study may help inform prevention programs and interventions focused on increasing tobacco-related digital media literacy (ie, evaluate tobacco advertising messages on digital media) among gender and ethnic minorities. Future research should examine if exposure to e-mail marketing is causally linked with e-cigarette use among gender and ethnic minorities.

HHC-induced psychosis: a case series of psychotic illness triggered by a widely available semisynthetic cannabinoid.

Use of both cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids has been regularly linked to the development of psychotic illness. Thus, semisynthetic cannabinoids such as hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), which have a similar neurobiological profile to delta-9-THC, may also be expected to lead to psychotic illness. However, no such relationship has yet been reported in scientific literature. HHC is readily available online and in many vape shops in Ireland. Here, we present two cases of psychotic illness which appear to have been precipitated by use of legally purchased HHC and discuss its psychotogenic role and factors linked to its current widespread availability.

Insights From a Community-Based Strategy to Assess Tobacco and Vape Shop Retailers' Implementation of Tobacco 21 Law in El Paso, Texas.

In 2019, the United States Congress passed Tobacco 21 (T21) legislation that raised the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products from 18 to 21. However, although the federal legislation superseded weaker state laws that were already in place in some states, including Texas, local guidance for retailers was inconsistent. Given that retailers are ultimately responsible for policy implementation, the American Heart Association (AHA) initiated a process of assessing retailers knowledge and perceptions of the law through a survey targeting all tobacco retailers and accompanying ethnography of a subset of vape shops in El Paso, Texas. The process yielded lessons learned for assessment of community-based policy implementation including key considerations for personnel and process that are applicable to other community-based assessment processes. While AHA considered an in-person approach ideal, having an alternate online response option was necessary. In addition, a focused approach and in-depth understanding of the purpose was key to responsiveness of the retailers.

How Should a Vape Shop-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention Be Delivered? A Qualitative Study.

Encouraging smokers to quit smoking tobacco using e-cigarettes could substantially reduce smoking-related diseases. Vape shops (VS) therefore have the potential to play an important role in supporting smoking cessation. The aim of this study was to explore how to deliver a vape shop-based smoking cessation intervention in the United Kingdom. Semistructured telephone interviews were undertaken with four stakeholder groups: 20 stop smoking service (SSS) providers, seven tobacco control leads, seven smokers/vapers, and five vape shop staff. Interviews were analyzed thematically. Stakeholder groups were positive about the idea of delivering a vape shop-based intervention. Themes that were identified were the characteristics of the intervention (duration and timing; delivery; style and content; and product provisions); barriers to the intervention (challenges for new vapers; false information; tobacco company involvement; and conflicts of interest); facilitators to the intervention (positive views on vaping; cost-effectiveness; popularity; and accessibility); and considerations for the intervention (data protection and privacy; aesthetics; and regulation and management). The results suggest that the intervention should be delivered by vape shop workers with mandatory training with the support of SSS. Most stakeholders agreed quitting vaping was not a priority, but that information on how to reduce nicotine use should be given. Concerns around privacy, General Data Protection Regulation, misinformation about vaping, and tobacco company involvement would need to be addressed. Stakeholders agree that VS should offer stop smoking interventions and hold similar opinions on how this should be delivered. This study suggests that smokers, vapers, and other key stakeholders are positive about the idea of a stop-smoking vape shop-based intervention and that they hold similar opinions on how this should be delivered. Most participants felt that this should be primarily delivered by trained vape shop staff and run with support from SSS. Participants agreed that a stop-smoking vape shop-based intervention should be flexible in terms of the type, duration, and frequency of support provided, and that the intervention should comprise both technical guidance on using a vape and behavioral support to prevent a return to smoking.

Examining indirect effects of advertising exposure on young adults' cannabis and nicotine vaping.

To examine longitudinal associations between exposure to two types of advertisements (medical/recreational cannabis and e-cigarette retailers [vape shops]) and young adults' cannabis and nicotine vaping behavior. Positive and negative expectancies for cannabis and vaping nicotine were examined as mediators of these associations. Secondary analysis of observational data from a longitudinal cohort of young adults recruited from Southern California (Wave 13: N = 2,411, 56% female, Mage = 23.6). Participants completed web-based surveys annually, reporting on advertising exposure in 2018, expectancies in 2019, and cannabis and nicotine vaping in 2020. Two path models were specified: (a) of past-month cannabis vaping only, nicotine vaping only, and co-use (vs. no vaping) and (b) of single product vaping (vs. co-use). Path analyses modeled direct and indirect associations between variables. Controlling for past-month cannabis and nicotine use and other covariates, there were no significant direct associations of advertising exposure with cannabis and/or nicotine vaping. However, the association between cannabis advertising exposure and vaping (cannabis only) was significantly mediated by positive cannabis expectancies (β = 0.02, SE = 0.01, p = .03). Among those who vaped cannabis and/or nicotine in the past month at Wave 13, expectancies did not significantly mediate associations between advertising exposure and single product use (vs. co-use). Although exposure to cannabis advertisements may not be directly associated with young adults' cannabis vaping 2 years later, the effects of advertising exposure may be exerted indirectly by increasing positive beliefs about cannabis. Implications for public health policy are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Trends in where people buy their vaping products and differences by user and device characteristics: A population study in England, 2016-23.

To explore where people in England typically buy e-cigarettes/vaping products, how their characteristics and the types of products purchased differ according to the source of purchase and whether this is changing over time. This was a nationally representative monthly cross-sectional survey. The study was conducted in England, 2016-23. A total of 6507 adults (≥18 years) who reported current vaping. Participants were asked where they usually buy their vaping products: vape shops, supermarkets/convenience stores, on-line or other sources ('other' or cheap from friends). Up to 2020, vape shops were the most common source of purchase (mean monthly proportion = 43.3%), followed by supermarkets/convenience stores (29.7%) and on-line retailers (20.5%). In 2020, these purchasing patterns shifted: on-line purchasing increased and vape-shop purchasing fell. The rise in on-line purchasing was short-lived, peaking at 33.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 31.0-36.5%] in July 2021, and soon returned to baseline levels. However, the fall in vape-shop purchasing persisted, remaining below 31% from July 2021 onwards, displaced by a rapid rise in purchasing from supermarkets and convenience stores from 31.6% (95% CI = 29.6-33.7%) in January 2021 to 48.5% (95% CI = 42.9-54.8%) by April 2023. This rise was most pronounced among younger adults (aged 18-35 years; Pinteraction < 0.001) and those mainly using disposable devices (Pinteraction = 0.013). Purchasing from other sources was relatively rare, and declined from 9.1% (95% CI = 6.6-12.7%) in July 2016 to 4.3% (95% CI = 2.6-7.1%) in April 2023. Supermarkets and convenience stores have recently overtaken vape shops to become the most popular places to buy vaping products in England. This change appears to have been driven by the rising popularity of new disposable e-cigarettes among younger adults, who tend to buy these products from supermarkets/convenience stores.

Trends in E-Cigarette and Tobacco Cigarette Purchasing Behaviors by Youth in the United States, Canada, and England, 2017-2022.

Objectives: This paper describes trends in youth e-cigarette (EC) and tobacco cigarette (TC) purchasing behaviors in Canada, England, and the United States (US) in relationship to changing minimum legal age (MLA) laws. Methods: Data are from eight cross-sectional online surveys among national samples of 16- to 19-year-olds in Canada, England, and the US conducted from 2017 to 2022 (N = 104,467). Average wave percentage change in EC and TC purchasing prevalence and purchase locations were estimated using Joinpoint regressions. Results: EC purchasing increased between 2017 and 2022, although the pattern of change differed by country. EC purchasing plateaued in 2019 for the US and in 2020 for Canada, while increasing through 2022 for England. TC purchasing declined sharply in the US, with purchasing from traditional retail locations declining, while purchasing from social sources increased. Vape shops were the most common location for EC purchasing, although declining in England and the US. Conclusion: Trends in EC and TC purchasing trends in the US are consistent with the expected impact of the federal MLA law increasing the legal age to 21years in December 2019.

How Complete Are Tobacco Sales Data? Assessing the Comprehensiveness of US Tobacco Product Retail Sales Data Through Comparisons to Excise Tax Collections.

Sales data analyses are increasingly used to guide tobacco regulatory science. However, such data do not cover specialist retailers like vape shops or tobacconists. Understanding the extent of the cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) markets covered by sales data is critical to establishing such analyses' generalizability and potential biases. Using retail sales data from Information Resources Incorporated (IRI) and Nielsen, we conduct tax gap analyses comparing states' cigarette and ENDS tax revenue to tax collection estimates based on retail sales data. For the 23 US states in both retail sales datasets, cigarette tax gap analyses were conducted for each year from 2018 to 2020. Four (Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington) of those 23 states levied per-unit ENDS taxes and provided monthly tax revenue data covering January 2018 to October 2021, where we conducted monthly tax gap analyses for both cigarettes and ENDS. Across states covered by both sales datasets, annual mean cigarette sales in IRI and Nielsen account for 92.3% (95% CI = 88.3% to 96.2%) and 84.0% (95% CI = 79.3% to 88.7%) of state cigarette tax revenue, respectively. Monthly average coverage rates for ENDS sales were lower, ranging from 42.3% to 86.1% for IRI and 43.6% to 88.5% for Nielsen, but remained stable over time. IRI and Nielsen sales data capture almost the entire US cigarette market and a substantial but lower portion of the US ENDS market. With proper care to address shortcomings, sales data analyses can capture changes in the US market for these tobacco products. Policy evaluations and analyses using e-cigarette and cigarette sales data are often criticized because these data do not cover online sales or sales by specialty retailers like tobacconists. Cigarette sales data consistently cover nearly 90% of taxed sales, while e-cigarette sales data cover around 50% of taxed volumes. Retail sales data capture nearly all cigarette sales and a substantial portion of ENDS sales with relatively stable rates of coverage over time, supporting their continued use in tobacco surveillance and policy evaluation work.