Predicting Effects of ENDS Flavor Regulations Among Latinx/e Smokers: Impact of Cultural Assets on Attitudes, Intentions, and Behavior.

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY. Smoking is a major contributor to lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death among Latinx/e men (13%) and the second leading cause after breast cancer for women (10%). Little work has examined how electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) uptake affects tobacco use and associated toxicity among Latinx/e smokers. Recently, FDA began regulating closed-system devices like JUUL, which have captured over 70% of the ENDS market and contributed to dramatic increases in youth ENDS use. As of early 2020, flavored ENDS cartridges (a small, enclosed unit used as part of an ENDS) other than menthol/tobacco are banned in the US. However, to achieve its public health mission, the FDA must balance restricting access to ENDS flavors that appeal to youth with the need for evidence on “whether and how certain flavors may help adult cigarette smokers reduce cigarette use and switch to potentially less harmful products”. Understanding the potential of ENDS to reduce the public health burden of combusted tobacco use equitably requires a targeted study to predict how future ENDS flavor regulations will impact Latinx/e smokers. The current study will evaluate whether ENDS flavor availability affects measures of tobacco use and investigate the mechanisms of addiction among Latinx/e adult smokers (N=150) by performing a cross- sectional study. The researcher will focus on the underserved Latinx/e community of Virginia where there is a need for the availability of bilingual services. The study will be culturally adapting one aim from the parent study (Predicting effects of ENDS flavor regulations on tobacco behavior, toxicity, and abuse liability among African American menthol smokers) while incorporating the possible implications of intersecting cultural factors on tobacco and substance use. A battery of measures will be administered in English or Spanish during one in person visit in Richmond, Virginia or via Zoom. Latinx/e communities are typically excluded from tobacco research and underserved in health services, and substance use prevention. Many times communities who may share marginalized experiences are grouped together in research which ignores crucial differences between these groups. Results of this work will help the FDA make predictions about the regulatory impact of ENDS flavor restrictions across multiple intersecting identities of smokers. Answers to these questions will address FDA’s priorities in behavior and addiction and will provide new data regarding the consequences of potential FDA regulatory actions on flavor ENDS to help maximize health-promoting effects and minimize unintended consequences among Latinx/e smokers.