Flavor and Nicotine Effects on E-cigarette Appeal in Young Adults: Moderation by Reason for Vaping

Abstract

Objectives: Effective regulations that reduce nicotine vaping among young adult dual (combustible and e-cigarette) users may differ depending on whether e-cigarettes are used for helping with smoking cessation. This laboratory experiment examined flavor and nicotine effects on e-cigarette product appeal among young adult dual users, stratified by reported use of e-cigarettes to quit smoking. Methods: Dual users aged 18-35 years that did (N = 31) or did not (N = 22) report vaping for the purpose of quitting smoking puffed e-cigarette solutions varied by a flavor (fruit, menthol, tobacco) and nicotine (nicotine-containing [6 mg/mL], nicotine-free) with-in-participant design. After puffing each solution, participants rated appeal. Results: In main effect analyses, non-tobacco (vs tobacco) flavors increased appeal and nicotine-containing (vs nicotine free) solutions reduced appeal similarly in dual users who did and did not vape to quit smoking. Interaction analyses found non-significant trend evidence that fruit and menthol flavors suppressed nicotine's appeal-reducing effects more powerfully in those that did not vape to quit smoking (flavor × nicotine × vape to quit smoking, ps = .05-.06). Conclusions: Non-tobacco flavors might increase e-cigarette product appeal in young adult dual users overall and disproportionately suppress nicotine's appeal-reducing effects in those that vape for purposes other than assisting with smoking cessation.