Prevalence and correlates of e-cigarette source and use of e-cigarettes with nicotine: A case study of Mexico, where e-cigarettes are banned

• Published in: The International journal of drug policy Vol. 133; p. 104609
• Main Authors: Vidaña-Pérez, Dèsirée, Gallegos-Carrillo, Katia, Barrientos-Gutierrez, Inti, Cruz-Jiménez, Lizeth, Rodríguez-Bolaños, Rosibel, Arillo-Santillán, Edna, Thrasher, James F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Adults; E-cigarette; Nicotine; Online retail; Vape shops; Online retail; Adults; Vape shops; E-cigarette; Nicotine
• ISSN: 0955-3959; 1873-4758; 1873-4758
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104609

•About half of Mexican adults who use e-cigarettes buy them, despite a sales ban.•Social sources were the most reported way to obtain e-cigarettes, online the most common purchase venue.•More frequent use of e-cigarettes was associated with purchasing e-cigarettes.•Higher e-cigarette use, and smoking were associated with nicotine e-cigarette use. Low- and middle-income countries have increasingly banned e-cigarettes, as in Mexico. In these countries, little is known about where adults obtain e-cigarettes or who uses e-cigarettes with nicotine. Data were analyzed from eight online surveys of Mexican adults who both smoked and used e-cigarettes (November 2018-March 2021; n = 2,060). For the e-cigarette they used most often, participants reported how they acquired it (social sources=reference; online purchase; vape shop purchase; other retail purchase) and if it contained nicotine (no=reference group; yes; don't know). Multinomial models regressed each of these outcomes on smoking- and e-cigarette-related factors, as well as sociodemographics. Almost half the sample (45.9 %) reported obtaining their e-cigarettes from social sources, with online purchase being the second most common source (28.7 %). Being male, having recently attempted to quit smoking, and more frequent e-cigarette use were positively associated with purchasing e-cigarettes (vs social sources) across all venues. Most reported that their e-cigarettes contained nicotine (58.2 %), a third reported using e-cigarettes without nicotine (35.9 %), and some did not know (5.8 %). More frequent smoking and e-cigarette use, using closed e-cigarette devices and purchasing e-cigarettes online were positively associated with using e-cigarettes with nicotine. Despite Mexico's e-cigarette ban, adults who smoke access e-cigarettes through multiple sources, including online and vape shop purchases. Most participants reported using e-cigarettes with nicotine, though many did not or did not know.