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Adolescents' First Tobacco Product: Results from a Nationally Representative Survey

2018; Volume: 4; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.18001/trs.4.3.4

2333-9748

Jennifer Cornacchione Ross, Cynthia K. Suerken, Jessica L. King, Kimberly D. Wiseman, Seth M. Noar, Kimberly G. Wagoner, Erin L. Sutfin,

School Health and Nursing Education

To inform targeted prevention efforts, it is important to understand which tobacco products are used first and associations by demographic characteristics.We conducted a nationally-representative random digit-dial telephone survey of 1125 adolescents ages 13-17. Adolescents reported the first tobacco product they tried, and we analyzed associations with demographic variables.Two-hundred nineteen (18.6%) adolescents reported ever using a tobacco product. The most common first product tried was cigarettes (35.4%), followed by electronic nicotine delivery systems (24.3%), smokeless tobacco (17.7%), cigars (11.4%), and waterpipe (11.2%). Weighted multivariable logistic regression analyses showed girls were 2.7 times more likely than boys to report cigarettes as their first product, Hispanic/Latinos were 5.0 times more likely than non-Hispanic/Latinos to report cigarettes, and those whose mothers had at least a 4-year college degree were 6.1 times more likely to report waterpipe compared to those whose mothers had less than a 4-year college degree.Nearly one in 5 adolescents had tried a tobacco product. Although cigarettes were the most frequently reported product, most youth initiated with a non-cigarette tobacco product, and demographic differences were found. These findings point towards potential regulatory policies, including targeted campaigns, which might deter adolescents from initiating tobacco use.