Abstract LB052: Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use among LatinX youth in low-resource communities: Implications for policy and regulation
Authors: Sleiman Marcelo , Tercyak Kenneth , Yockel Mary R. 
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use by youth who never previously used tobacco is a major health concern, as ENDS have been linked to DNA damage, inflammation, and cancer development. FDA’s regulation of ENDS products includes how the tobacco industry markets ENDS to young people, including youth from marginalized communities. LatinX youth are among the largest and fastest growing populations in the country, yet little is known about their susceptibility to using ENDS, including perceived risks of harm and addiction. The purpose of this study was to characterize ENDS use among LatinX youth in low-resource communities, and perceptions of its harm and addiction.

Methods: N=622 middle and high school students identifying as LatinX and enrolled in a Title I school district in NJ completed an online survey during a class period. Lifetime ENDS use and its correlates were tested in bivariate and logistic regression models.

Results: Based on Spanish-English language preference, 33% of LatinX youth had low acculturation to the US and 35% had high US acculturation: their overall prevalence of lifetime ENDS use was 20%. LatinX ENDS users were 3x more likely to acquire ENDS products from others (e.g., adults) than to purchase or obtain them themselves (16% vs. 5%). LatinX youth were considered further ‘susceptible’ to using ENDS based on their curiosity (30%), expected use within a year (11%), or uptake if offered by a friend (17%). In multivariable logistic regression models of the odds of ENDS use, LatinX students in Grade 11 were more likely to have ever used ENDS vs. those in Grade 7 (OR=1.23, 95% CI=0.77, 1.95). After adjusting for acculturation, LatinX youth who were more curious (OR=6.85, 95% CI=3.64, 12.87), intended to use ENDS in the next year (OR=4.96, 95% CI=2.24, 10.98), and would use the product if offered by a friend (OR=5.47, 95% CI=2.80, 10.68) had greater lifetime odds of being ENDS users. Also, LatinX youth who perceived no/low risks (OR= 2.02, 95% CI=1.22, 3.34) or health harms (OR=2.19, 95% CI=1.29, 3.73) were more likely to have ever used ENDS. When examined simultaneously, LatinX youth who both perceived no/low risk as well as no/low health harms were the most likely to have used ENDS products in their lifetimes (OR=3.10, 95% CI=1.72, 5.62).

Conclusions: Across the acculturation continuum, LatinX youth from marginalized communities are especially susceptible and using ENDS. Prevention efforts directed towards these communities may benefit from health education messaging that emphasizes health harms and addiction potential to reduce ENDS experimentation.

Citation Format: Marcelo Sleiman, Kenneth Tercyak, Mary R. Yockel. Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use among LatinX youth in low-resource communities: Implications for policy and regulation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 2 (Clinical Trials and Late-Breaking Research); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(8_Suppl):Abstract nr LB052.