Perceptions of Health Risks and Accessibility

A Social Media-Based Pilot Study of Factors Influencing Use of Vaping and Combustible Tobacco Products

Bibliographic Data

ID15510696
AuthorsEnitan Banjo (California State University, Dominguez Hills), Zoya Ahadian (0009-0003-1969-5041, University of California San Diego), Nikita Kasaraneni (0009-0006-5767-1122, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Physiology, University of California San Diego (UCSD), San Diego, CA 92093, USA), Howard Chang (0000-0002-4813-7271, University of California San Diego), Sarala Perera (Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Physiology, University of California San Diego (UCSD), San Diego, CA 92093, USA), Samali C Perera (0000-0002-7022-5788, University of California San Diego), Kristen Emory (California State University, Dominguez Hills), Laura E Crotty Alexander (0000-0002-5091-2660, University of California San Diego, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume22
Issue5
Pages800-800
Publication date2025-05-20
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph22050800
PMID40427913
OpenAlexW4410519832
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited27

The prevalence of e-cigarette use (vaping) in young adults is concerning, particularly because the initiation of combustible tobacco use is higher in e-cigarette vapers. It is unclear why young, never-smoker vapers decide to start smoking cigarettes, but they may be influenced by perceptions of health risks and accessibility. We designed a social media questionnaire to assess factors driving the initiation of combustible tobacco use by e-cigarette vapers (multi-inhalant use) and switches between inhalant types. Respondents reported an earlier initiation of combustible tobacco versus vaping (18 vs. 19, respectively, p p < 0.01), and pleasure of vaping being equivalent to that of smoking. The majority of subjects (57%) reported smoking first prior to adding vaping devices, 32% reported initiating both smoking and vaping within 12 months of one another, and 11% reported initiating vaping first. Among respondents (n = 864) who switched from vaping to smoking (n = 104), the primary reasons included 1. the perception that smoking was healthier (44%) and 2. greater accessibility of cigarettes (40%). For those who switched from smoking to vaping (n = 178), the predominant motivations included 1. having friends or family who vape (40%) and 2. the perception that vaping was healthier (36%). Among multi-inhalant users (n = 223), key factors driving this behavior included 1. increased enjoyment (47%) and 2. greater variety (42%). Our findings imply that there is no single, dominant reason driving the initiation of combustible use or switching from one inhalant to another. Further, tobacco users are receiving mixed messaging, leading many to believe that combustible tobacco is the healthier option. Public health interventions are needed to prevent the initiation of e-cigarette vaping by youth and to educate the public about the health effects of tobacco products

Electronic cigarette · Environmental health · Intoxicative inhalant · Perception · Pleasure · Risk perception · Tobacco use · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Medicine · Noise Effects and Management · Psychology · Smoking Behavior and Cessation · Toxicology

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