Associations between living in localities with e-cigarette sales restrictions and e-cigarette use change among young adults in Los Angeles County

Abstract

IntroductionLocal e-cigarette sales restrictions (ESRs) may impact e-cigarette use. This study examined the associations between living in localities with various ESR policies and changes in e-cigarette use among young adults in Los Angeles (LA) County, California, USA.MethodsData were from a cohort of LA County young adults (18–21 years; n=2100) who completed two waves of surveys (Fall 2018–Summer 2019 and Summer–Fall 2020). Local flavoured (n=9) and comprehensive (n=2) ESRs in LA County implemented between June 2019 and May 2020 were identified, coded and merged with the baseline data. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between living in ESR localities and e-cigarette use at follow-up, controlling for covariates and stratified by cigarette smoking at baseline.ResultsOverall, 20.9% and 14.3% of participants lived in localities with flavoured and comprehensive ESRs, respectively. Participants who were non-Hispanic, had higher socioeconomic statuses and were currently using e-cigarettes were generally more likely to live in ESR localities than their counterparts. The associations between living in ESR localities and e-cigarette use at follow-up were not found among baseline non-e-cigarette users regardless of their cigarette smoking status; a positive relationship was found among baseline e-cigarette users who also smoked cigarettes but not among non-smokers.DiscussionParticipants who lived in localities with various ESR policies were different in their baseline e-cigarette use and socioeconomic backgrounds. Future research examining the potential impact of ESRs on e-cigarette use change should consider the localities’ overall sociodemographic and tobacco-using characteristics and individuals’ cigarette smoking histories.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), Marginalized Populations, and Tobacco Regulatory Policies

“…Inadequate regulations and oversight of e-cigarettes since their emergence on the market over a decade ago have caused an astonishingly high number of middle and high school students and young adults, many of whom otherwise would not have been susceptible to nicotine use, to use a highly addictive product. Specific restrictive and regulatory policies related to e-cigarette sales 51 , 57 , 58 and advertisement 59 , 60 can help to better address this public health problem and assure that the potential benefits of e-cigarettes are delivered in a manner that does not harm a significant portion of the population ( Figure 2 ).…”