A recent study published in JAMA Network Open examines how salt-based nicotine formulations and menthol flavorings impact nicotine levels and the subjective experience of using e-cigarettes in young adults. Study: E-Cigarette nicotine delivery among young adults by nicotine form, concentration, and flavor: a crossover randomized clinical trial. Image Credit: sergey kolesnokov / Shutterstock.
com E-cigarette use in young adults Initially, e-cigarettes were marketed as a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes. However, young adults have become the primary consumers of e-cigarette products as compared to those of any other age group, which has led e-cigarettes to be the most commonly used tobacco product among young American adults. In 2021, 20% of young adults were current vapers, whereas 10% of middle and high schoolers reported using e-cigarettes in 2023.
The early use of e-cigarettes increases the risk of addiction, as daily vaping is currently reported by nearly 50% of young adults and 25% of teenagers in the United States. Although the concentration of freebase nicotine in e-cigarettes is up to 90% lower than that in traditional cigarettes, the incorporation of various additives leads to the formation of nicotine salts and non-tobacco flavors that facilitate nicotine dependence. As a result, nicotine inhalation through e-cigarettes is smoother and easier, which increases their palatability for continuous use.
This innovation enabled the marketing of e-cigarettes with .