Tobacco Prevention and Cessation (Mar 2019)

Trend in electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in Italian adolescents, Global Youth Tobacco Smoke (GYTS), 2014, 2018

  • Giuseppe Gorini,
  • Silvano Gallus,
  • Maria Sofia Cattaruzza,
  • Alessio Lachi,
  • Giulia Carreras,
  • Daniela Galeone,
  • Lorenzo Spizzichino,
  • Barbara De Mei,
  • Susanna Lana,
  • Maria Masocco,
  • Valentina Minardi,
  • Claudia Mortali,
  • Luisa Mastrobattista,
  • Rosilde Di Pirchio,
  • Roberta Pacifici,
  • Lorena Charrier,
  • Franco Cavallo,
  • Fabrizio Faggiano,
  • Francesco Barone-Adesi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18332/tpc/105303
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5, no. Supplement

Abstract

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Introduction Main aim was to describe prevalence trends in Italy, 2014-2018 of tobacco cigarettes, electronic cigarettes (e-cig), smokeless tobacco (snuff, chewing tobacco, heated tobacco products), and to describe cigarettes and e-cig access from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS). Methods GYTS is a nationally representative school-based, cross-sectional survey of students aged 13-15 years . GYTS has been carrying out in 61 countries worldwide and used a standard methodology. Ten items were selected in order to describe prevalence trends and access to tobacco cigarettes and e-cig. Results Ever and current tobacco use in Italy non-significantly decreased from 46.4% to 41.0%, and from 23.4% to 19.8%, respectively. Ever and current e-cig users significantly increased from 28.0% to 43.5%, and from 8.4% to 17.5%, respectively. Ever and current smokeless tobacco use in 2018 were 3.4% and 1.6%, respectively. In 2018, 68.0% and 76.0% of adolescents who were current cigarette smokers or e-cig users, respectively, reported retailers did not refuse to sell them cigarettes or e-cig because of their age; 19.7% and 15.3% of current smokers reported to buy cigarettes in stores, or in vending machines, respectively. Among current e-cig users, 10.2% reported to get e-cig from specialized shops. Conclusions From 2014 to 2018 current e-cig users doubled; in 2018, current smokeless tobacco users were 1.6%. Even though sale bans to minors were implemented in Italy for cigarettes and e-cig, about 2 out 3 tobacconists and managers of e-cig shops keep on selling their products to adolescents.

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