Perceptions of, factors underlying, and reasons for e-cigarette use among Australia’s young adults

Abstract

Recent studies have found that the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is on the rise among nonsmokers and that vaping may potentially be a gateway to smoking (Romijnders et al. 2018). In order to combat rates of e-cigarette initiation and use among young adults, the aim of this paper is to understand how young adults view e-cigarettes and the reasons behind their use. A systematic review of the Australian literature on adolescent e-cigarette use was conducted. It was found that this demographic of individuals was unsure of how they felt regarding legislation of e-cigarettes but were against restrictive regulation. Australian young adults were found to be largely misinformed regarding the efficacy of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation devices. A considerable number were unaware of the health risks associated with e-cigarette use. Factors associated with use included being male, alcohol and cigarette use, financial instability, and younger age. Furthermore, evidence was found against the use of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation and it was discovered that a large reason for usage is enjoyment. It is believed that this review will identify key areas for scientists, public health professionals, and regulators to develop effective interventions against e-cigarette use among young Australian adults.