1
|
Galstyan E, Galimov A, Meza L, Huh J, Berg CJ, Unger JB, Baezconde-Garbanati L, Sussman S. An Assessment of Vape Shop Products in California before and after Implementation of FDA and State Regulations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15827. [PMID: 36497899 PMCID: PMC9738621 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Vape shops specialize in sales of e-cigarettes and related products. This study examines whether vape shops adapted their products and services in response to changes in federal and state policies that affect the tobacco retail environment between 2014-2022. In this multicohort study, four waves of study data were used to examine the trends in products sold in vape shops in Southern California. Items sold were assessed through systematic store product observations and included categories of e-cigarettes, device modification equipment, and other products (e.g., Cannabidiol (CBD), paraphernalia). Descriptive statistics are reported. The availability of disposable devices increased from 18% at Wave 1 to 98% of shops at Wave 4. Pod mods were first observed in 79% of the shops beginning at Wave 3. Device modification drills later become obsolete, from 60% at Wave 1 to 0 by Wave 4; self-service sampling displays declined from 83% of shops to 9%. Vape shops did not carry CBD products until Wave 3 (2017/2018), when 19.0% of shops carried CBD products and 72.9% at Wave 4. Future research should examine how e-cigarette retailers and manufacturers respond to changing state and federal regulations to better understand the implications of regulatory efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Galstyan
- Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
| | - Artur Galimov
- Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
| | - Leah Meza
- Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
| | - Jimi Huh
- Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
| | - Carla J. Berg
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, GW Cancer Center, George Washington University, Science & Engineering Hall, 800 22nd St. NW, #7000C, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Jennifer B. Unger
- Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
| | - Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati
- Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
| | - Steve Sussman
- Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
- School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
The Reshaping of the E-Cigarette Retail Environment: Its Evolution and Public Health Concerns. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148518. [PMID: 35886373 PMCID: PMC9319677 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
E-cigarette use represents a public health controversy in the US and globally. Despite the potential of e-cigarettes to support cigarette cessation, their use increases health risks and risk for addiction, particularly in young people. Various federal, state, and local laws have impacted tobacco retail in general and e-cigarettes in particular. In the US, 2019–2020 federal laws increased in the minimum legal sales age for tobacco to 21 and banned flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes. Many states and localities were early adopters of Tobacco 21 and implemented more comprehensive flavor restrictions than the federal ban. Meanwhile, cannabis retail is increasingly being legalized in the US—while cannabis-based product regulation has notable gaps at the federal, state, and local levels. These regulatory complexities have impacted specialized retailers selling e-cigarettes, including “vape shops” that exclusively sell e-cigarettes, “smoke shops” that sell e-cigarettes and other tobacco (and potentially CBD/THC and other un- or under-regulated products), and online retail. This commentary outlines public health concerns related to: (1) youth access; (2) consumer exposure to a broader range of tobacco products and marketing in retail settings where they may seek products to aid in cigarette cessation (i.e., such broad product exposure could hinder cessation attempts); (3) consumer exposure to un-/under-regulated products (e.g., delta-8-THC, kratom); and (4) federal, state, and local regulations being undermined by consumer access to prohibited products online and via the mail. These concerns underscore the need for ongoing surveillance of how retailers and consumers respond to regulations.
Collapse
|