Evidence of Nicotine Dependence in Adolescents Who Use Juul and Similar Pod Devices

Rachel Boykan, Maciej L. Goniewicz and Catherine R. Messina
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Rachel Boykan: Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
Maciej L. Goniewicz: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
Catherine R. Messina: Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 12, 1-6

Abstract: Background : The use of high-nicotine content e-cigarettes (so-called pods, such as Juul) among adolescents raises concerns about early onset of nicotine addiction. Methods : In this analysis of adolescents surveyed from April 2017–April 2018, we compare survey responses and urinary cotinine of pod vs. non-pod using past-week e-cigarette users aged 12–21. Results : More pod users categorized themselves as daily users compared to non-pod users (63.0% vs. 11.0%; p = 0.001); more pod than non-pod users had used e-cigarettes within the past day (76.2% vs. 29.6%; p = 0.001). More pod users responded affirmatively to nicotine dependence questions (21.4% vs. 7.1%; p = 0.04). Urinary cotinine levels were compared among those responding positively and negatively to dependence questions: those with positive responses had significantly higher urinary cotinine levels than those responding negatively. Conclusions : Adolescents who used pod products showed more signs of nicotine dependence than non-pod users. Pediatricians should be vigilant in identifying dependence symptoms in their patients who use e-cigarettes, particularly in those using pod devices.

Keywords: e-cigarette; nicotine; dependence; tobacco (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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