Response to Flavored Cartridge/Pod-Based Product Ban among Adult JUUL Users: “You Get Nicotine However You Can Get It”

Jessica M. Yingst, Candace R. Bordner, Andréa L. Hobkirk, Brianna Hoglen, Sophia I. Allen, Nicolle M. Krebs, Kenneth R. Houser, Craig Livelsberger and Jonathan Foulds
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Jessica M. Yingst: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Candace R. Bordner: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Andréa L. Hobkirk: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Brianna Hoglen: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Sophia I. Allen: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Nicolle M. Krebs: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Kenneth R. Houser: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Craig Livelsberger: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Jonathan Foulds: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: In order to curb increasing youth electronic cigarette (e-cig) use, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of flavored cartridge/pod-based products in February 2020. This mixed-methods study aimed to evaluate the impact of the FDA ban on adult JUUL users. The samples of current adult JUUL users were surveyed via Amazon Mechanical Turk at three time-points n = 76 (Sample 1); n = 128 (Sample 2); n = 86 (Sample 3) before and after the FDA flavored/pod ban. The participants were asked to report the JUUL flavored pod used most often and answer questions on purchasing generic pods or refilling (Quantitative). JUUL users were then interviewed in order to explore their perceptions and behaviors related to the FDA ban of flavored cartridge/pod-based products (Qualitative; n = 16). Quantitative data analysis evaluated the differences in variables by time-point. Qualitative data were coded into themes while using the constant comparative method. We found a significant decrease in the use of mint pods (43.4%, 22.7%, 16.3%) ( p < 0.01), while there was a significant increase in the use of menthol pods (6.6%, 26.6%, 37.2%) ( p < 0.01). Themes that emerged from the qualitative data included switching from mint to menthol pods, refilling pods, and switching to other products that are available in the desired flavors, such as generic pods or disposable e-cigs. Future research is needed in order to evaluate the impact of these behaviors on public health.

Keywords: electronic cigarette; perceptions; mixed methods research; flavored tobacco products; food and drug administration; disposable e-cigarettes; tobacco control policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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