[Perception of ENDS among French high school students in Nord and Pas-de-Calais]

Abstract

Introduction: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have been gaining popularity for over a decade, particularly among young people. The aim was to understand how these devices were perceived, in general and according to different characteristics: gender, smoking status, experimentation or possession of SEDEN.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted by an online questionnaire to 15 high schools between 14 May and 23 October 2021. Perception was assessed by a constructed score.

Results: In total, 772 responses from 10 high schools were analysed; 44.7% had already experimented with ENDS. The main reason for use was pleasure (33.8%). Only 15% of smokers or former smokers reported using ENDS to stop smoking as their main reason. The majority of ENDS (72.8%) are perceived as harmful. This negative perception is more important among women, non-smokers, non-experimenters and non-owners of ENDS. More than 50% of the respondents consider ENDS as distinct from tobacco.

Conclusions: ENDS are perceived as potentially harmful and their use is often motivated by pleasure. Their perception as a practice distinct from smoking, combined with unknown long-term consequences, justifies increased vigilance in the face of the emergence of these new uses.

Keywords: Addiction; Adolescent; Cigarette électronique; Electronic nicotine delivery systems; SEDEN; Teenagers; Vape; Vaping; Vapotage.