Approximately half of adolescents who use e-cigarettes have made an attempt to quit in the past year, highlighting the capacity of physician support – and recent TMA advocacy wins – to help some young patients shed the habit.
An additional 35% of adolescents who use e-cigarettes indicated they intended to quit in the next six months, according to a JAMA Pediatrics research letter published in July. The research also found that 8.5% of adolescents, ages 15 to 17, had vaped in the past 30 days, and 36% of adolescents in that group reported near-daily use of an electronic nicotine product.
“The important thing to realize is that this is an addiction,” said Arthi Krishnan, MD, a member of TMA’s Committee on Child and Adolescent Health who treats college-age patients. “Most kids are not starting this with the intention of becoming addicted."
In addition, parents “might not recognize how these devices are changing: the technology, the appearances ... it’s smokeless and can be odorless. And then [adolescents are] using these devices that don’t resemble a typical cigarette or what we’re used to.”
According to the study, those adolescents who attempted to quit in the past year used nicotine replacement therapy (4.2%), a prescription medication (2%), or a cessation app (16%).
Dr. Krishnan recommends those quit aids as well as other actions, including finding a social activity that doesn’t include vaping, cognitive behavioral therapy, and chewing straws or gum to help replace the habit. The Texas Department of State Health Services has more suggested actions, as does The University of Texas’ Tobacco Research & Evaluation Team.
Varenicline, which is approved for use by patients 17 and older, can help patients who don’t find success in attempting to quit using other methods, Dr. Krishnan says.
If a patient says they have no desire to quit, Dr. Krishnan recommends thanking them for sharing the information and saying something along the lines of “I want you to be aware that vaping is not good for you.”
“Just use that time to educate in a nonjudgmental way, and then just continue to address it with each visit and hope that you can help them move into the contemplative state.” Then, when they’re ready to quit, she says, offer them options.
A review in the journal Tobacco Control, published in August, found consistent associations between vaping and subsequent smoking, marijuana use, alcohol use, asthma, cough, injuries and mental health outcomes. The review's findings support policy measures to restrict sales and marketing of e-cigarettes to young people.
TMA’s recent legislative successes to regulate e-cigarette advertising and appearance also may lend support. Effective Sept. 1:
- Senate Bill 1316 bans advertising for e-cigarettes within 1,000 feet of a church or school;
- Senate Bill 1313 targets e-cigarette advertising that caters to minors using cartoonlike fictional characters; and
- Senate Bill 2024 prevents the design of e-cigarettes that resemble childhood games, school supplies, and children’s toys.
“All [of the e-cigarette bills] taken together are going to have some positive benefits,” Dr. Krishnan said.
Keep apprised of TMA’s advocacy to curtail tobacco and e-cigarette use on the association’s dedicated webpage.
Jessica Ridge
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1395