TY - JOUR
T1 - Qualitative reactions to a low nicotine product standard for cigarettes from adolescents and young adults living in the United States who smoke
AU - Denlinger-Apte, Rachel L.
AU - Cassidy, Rachel N.
AU - Donny, Eric C.
AU - Godin, Julissa
AU - Hatsukami, Dorothy K.
AU - Strahley, Ashley E.
AU - Wiseman, Kimberly D.
AU - Colby, Suzanne M.
AU - Tidey, Jennifer W.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)
PY - 2023/4
Y1 - 2023/4
N2 - The Biden Administration is considering a low nicotine product standard for cigarettes. This qualitative study examined reactions to a nicotine reduction policy among adolescents and young adults (AYA) who smoke cigarettes. After completing a lab study involving masked exposure either to low nicotine or normal nicotine research cigarettes and unmasked exposure to e-cigarettes varying in nicotine concentration and flavor, we conducted follow-up semi-structured interviews (N = 25) to explore participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of a low nicotine product standard and their anticipated tobacco use behavior after policy implementation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, double-coded, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Nearly half of participants supported the policy because they thought it would prevent young people from starting smoking and/or would help people quit. Reasons some participants opposed the policy included beliefs that adults should have the choice to smoke or that a nicotine reduction policy is counterintuitive because the government benefits from cigarette sales. Others believed the policy would be ineffective because youth could circumvent the policy (e.g., illicit market) or would increase their smoking to maintain the same nicotine level. Almost half of participants said they would quit smoking while the other half said they would continue smoking, although potentially reduce their smoking. Overall, our qualitative findings point to the need for pre-policy media campaigns targeting AYA who smoke to minimize negative reactions, dispel fears, and correct misperceptions as well as encourage quitting and provide information on accessing cessation resources.
AB - The Biden Administration is considering a low nicotine product standard for cigarettes. This qualitative study examined reactions to a nicotine reduction policy among adolescents and young adults (AYA) who smoke cigarettes. After completing a lab study involving masked exposure either to low nicotine or normal nicotine research cigarettes and unmasked exposure to e-cigarettes varying in nicotine concentration and flavor, we conducted follow-up semi-structured interviews (N = 25) to explore participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of a low nicotine product standard and their anticipated tobacco use behavior after policy implementation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, double-coded, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Nearly half of participants supported the policy because they thought it would prevent young people from starting smoking and/or would help people quit. Reasons some participants opposed the policy included beliefs that adults should have the choice to smoke or that a nicotine reduction policy is counterintuitive because the government benefits from cigarette sales. Others believed the policy would be ineffective because youth could circumvent the policy (e.g., illicit market) or would increase their smoking to maintain the same nicotine level. Almost half of participants said they would quit smoking while the other half said they would continue smoking, although potentially reduce their smoking. Overall, our qualitative findings point to the need for pre-policy media campaigns targeting AYA who smoke to minimize negative reactions, dispel fears, and correct misperceptions as well as encourage quitting and provide information on accessing cessation resources.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Nicotine
KW - Qualitative methods
KW - Smoking
KW - Tobacco control policy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149205322&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85149205322&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102163
DO - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102163
M3 - Article
C2 - 36895826
AN - SCOPUS:85149205322
SN - 2211-3355
VL - 32
JO - Preventive Medicine Reports
JF - Preventive Medicine Reports
M1 - 102163
ER -