Intentions and Attempts to Quit JUUL E-Cigarette Use: The Role of Perceived Harm and Addiction

Abstract

Introduction: Research on electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) quit intentions and attempts is limited despite the potential health benefits of quitting, especially for long-term users. The current study aimed to investigate perceptions of harm and addictiveness and tobacco use characteristics associated with quit variables among users of a popular e-cigarette brand, JUUL.

Methods: We surveyed 301 US adult JUUL users on their tobacco use characteristics, perceptions of JUUL harm and addictiveness, and quit variables at 3 time points, from July 2019 to April 2020. We used logistic regression models to assess demographic characteristics, smoking characteristics, and perceptions of JUUL harm and addictiveness as correlates of e-cigarette quit intentions, attempts, importance, and confidence.

Results: Twenty-three percent of the sample had intentions to quit using JUUL within the year, and 22.6% reported making a lifetime quit attempt. The average rating of quit importance was 4.1 and quit confidence was 5.8 on a Likert scale of 1 to 10. More than 90% of the sample indicated that JUUL was at least moderately addictive, whereas less than one-quarter indicated that JUUL was as harmful or more harmful than smoking. Higher levels of perceived JUUL addictiveness were associated with more quit intentions, attempts, and importance. Higher levels of perceived JUUL harm compared with smoking were associated with more quit importance.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a small proportion of adult JUUL users are interested in quitting. Self-reported perceptions of JUUL's addiction potential may be related to more quit attempts. Findings highlight the need for evidence-based information on e-cigarette addictiveness and effective strategies for cessation.

Figure 1

Frequency of quit variables by harm and addiction perceptions among a sample of US adult JUUL users (N = 301), 2019–2020.

Figure 2

Mean PSECDI dependence score by level of A) perceived addictiveness of JUUL and B) perceived harm (compared with smoking) of JUUL among a sample of US adult JUUL users (N = 301), 2019–2020. Boxes indicate the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile. Whiskers show the minimum and maximum ranges. Abbreviation: PSECDI, Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index.