Use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products among junior and senior high school students in Taiwan

Objective: In recent years, e-cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products are emerging. Young group are more susceptible to the flavors and modern designs of e-cigarettes and HTPs. Both of e-cigarettes and HTPs contain nicotine. The adolescent brain is particularly sensitive to the effects of nicotine. This study aims to examine the prevalence of e-cigarettes use and HTPs use among adolescents. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2018 Taiwan Global youth tobacco survey (Taiwan GYTS) conducted under a school-based and cross-sectional study. A total of 44,905 students in grades 7-12 were analyzed. Results: The prevalence of e-cigarettes use by junior and senior high school students was 1.9% and 3.4% in 2018 respectively. The HTPs use among junior and senior high school students was 2.0% and 2.7% in 2018. 37.0% of junior high school students and 20.9% of senior high school students who have never used traditional cigarettes have tried e-cigarettes, and 45.7% of junior high school students and 25.8% of senior high school students who have never used traditional cigarettes have used HTPs. Conclusions: Although cigarettes use by adolescents has declined substantially over the past few years, the rise of e-cigarettes and HTPs poses a serious health risk for children and teenagers. Taiwan’s governments have cooperated with each other to comprehensively block hazards from e-cigarettes and HTPs by border seizure and inspection, source tracking, channel inspection, monitoring and management, education broadcasting and cessation guidance, etc. The goal is to protect children and teenagers against these dangers and to create a smoke-free environment for the next generation.