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. 2018 Jul 11;15(7):1465.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph15071465.

Youth Access to Electronic Cigarettes in an Unrestricted Market: A Cross-Sectional Study from Poland

Lukasz Balwicki  1 , Danielle Smith  2 , Malgorzata Balwicka-Szczyrba  3 , Michal Gawron  4 , Andrzej Sobczak  5   6 , Maciej L Goniewicz  7
Affiliations

Youth Access to Electronic Cigarettes in an Unrestricted Market: A Cross-Sectional Study from Poland

Lukasz Balwicki et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among youths in Poland has become very popular. The aim of this study was to identify the potential points of access to these products by students aged 16⁻17 years old before implementation of sales restrictions to minors in Poland in November 2016. Methods: A school-based, cross-sectional survey was administered in 2015⁻2016 in 21 secondary/technical schools across two regions of Poland. Analyses focused on 341 students aged 16⁻17 years old who reported their past 30-day use of e-cigarettes. Pearson Chi-square analyses were utilized to examine the associations between access-related items, e-cigarette use and demographics. Results: Among youth e-cigarette users, the most common access to their first e-cigarette was from a friend (38%), followed by purchasing from vape shops (26%). Similar patterns emerged when the students were asked about their access to the currently used e-cigarette. Most youths reported no difficulty in purchasing cartridges/e-liquid containing nicotine (90%). The majority of users (52%) reported buying such products in vape shops. Conclusions: Prior to implementing age-related sales restrictions, youth access to e-cigarettes and paraphernalia did not pose any significant barriers. Poland's introduction of a new age limit on e-cigarette sales may help to limit the number of youths who purchase e-cigarettes from vape shops.

Keywords: e-cigarette access; e-cigarette use; health behavior; youth.

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Conflict of interest statement

MLG reports receiving grants from Pfizer (2011 Global Research Award for Nicotine Dependence), a manufacturer of smoking cessation drugs, outside of the submitted work, and is a member of the advisory board to Johnson & Johnson. AS reports receiving in 2015–2016 personal fees from the eSmoking Institute, Poznan, Poland and non-financial support from Chic Group LTD, a manufacturer of electronic cigarettes in Poland. Above institutions had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sources of acquisition for first e-cigarette and current e-cigarette used.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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