Tobacco control
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Comparative Study
Vaping versus JUULing: how the extraordinary growth and marketing of JUUL transformed the US retail e-cigarette market.
While national surveys showed declines in e-cigarette use in the USA between 2015 and 2016, recent reports indicate that JUUL, a sleekly designed e-cigarette that looks like a USB drive, is increasingly being used by youth and young adults. However, the extent of JUUL's growth and its marketing strategy have not been systematically examined. ⋯ The discrepancies between e-cigarette sales data and the prevalence of e-cigarette use from surveys highlight the challenges in tracking and understanding the use of new and emerging tobacco products. In a rapidly changing media environment, where successful and influential marketing campaigns can be conducted on social media at little cost, marketing expenditures alone may not fully capture the influence, reach and engagement of tobacco marketing.
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Comparative Study
Discordance between perceived and actual tobacco product use prevalence among US youth: a comparative analysis of electronic and regular cigarettes.
Two components of social norms-descriptive (estimated prevalence) and injunctive (perceived acceptability)-can influence youth tobacco use. ⋯ Four of five US students overestimated peer e-cigarette or cigarette use. Counter-tobacco mass media messages can help denormalise tobacco use.
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In population studies, vaping is often treated as a dichotomous exposure (present/absent) without consideration of specific vaping devices and materials being used. A survey instrument is needed to record specific vaping devices and materials. ⋯ This study demonstrated the feasibility of an internet-based survey instrument to record specific vaping factors for use in studies of vaping and health.
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New electronic heated tobacco products are being introduced in the global market and are gaining popularity. In 2016, Philip Morris International, Inc. (PMI) submitted a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market IQOS in the USA with claims of reduced exposure and reduced risk. ⋯ PMI's data appear to support PMI's claim that IQOS reduces exposure to HPHCs. However, PMI's data also show significantly higher levels of several substances that are not recognised as HPHCs by the FDA in IQOS emissions compared with combustible cigarette smoke. The impact of these substances on the overall toxicity or harm of IQOS is not known.
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Comparative Study
Revolution or redux? Assessing IQOS through a precursor product.
Philip Morris International (PMI) currently claims that its heated tobacco product, IQOS, reduces health risk by reducing users' exposure to harmful and potentially harmful constituents present in tobacco smoke. Given the tobacco industry's long history of misrepresenting and obfuscating research, independent assessment of PMI's claims is important. Analysis of Accord, a failed but strikingly similar precursor to IQOS, may help contextualise PMI's claims in its Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) application. ⋯ IQOS appears to be a variant of Accord without consistent improvements in exposure to aerosol toxic compounds. In contrast to PM's past claims for Accord, PMI now claims in its MRTP application that IQOS reduces health risk. This shift in stance is likely not the result of any toxicological difference between Accord and IQOS, but rather a change in the social and regulatory landscape permitting these claims.