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

Department of General and Analytical Chemistry, Division of Laboratory Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Medical University of Silesia, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland

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Institute of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(7), 1465; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15071465

Received: 1 June 2018 / Revised: 6 July 2018 / Accepted: 9 July 2018 / Published: 11 July 2018

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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. View Full-Text

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

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MDPI and ACS Style

Balwicki, L.; Smith, D.; Balwicka-Szczyrba, M.; Gawron, M.; Sobczak, A.; Goniewicz, M.L. Youth Access to Electronic Cigarettes in an Unrestricted Market: A Cross-Sectional Study from Poland. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 1465. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15071465

AMA Style

Balwicki L, Smith D, Balwicka-Szczyrba M, Gawron M, Sobczak A, Goniewicz ML. Youth Access to Electronic Cigarettes in an Unrestricted Market: A Cross-Sectional Study from Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018; 15(7):1465. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15071465

Chicago/Turabian Style

Balwicki, Lukasz, Danielle Smith, Malgorzata Balwicka-Szczyrba, Michal Gawron, Andrzej Sobczak, and Maciej L. Goniewicz. 2018. "Youth Access to Electronic Cigarettes in an Unrestricted Market: A Cross-Sectional Study from Poland" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15, no. 7: 1465. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15071465

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

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