Higher Education and Cultural Adaptation Linked to E-Cigarette Use in Hispanic/Latino Youth Males: Study

Jan.05.2023
Higher Education and Cultural Adaptation Linked to E-Cigarette Use in Hispanic/Latino Youth Males: Study
US-born Hispanic/Latino men who speak English and have higher education/cultural adaptation are more likely to use e-cigarettes.

According to a recent study, young Hispanic and Latino men born in the United States who speak English and have higher levels of education and cultural adaptation are more likely to use e-cigarettes.


Although electronic cigarettes have become increasingly popular, the extent of their use among Hispanic and Latino minorities is still in need of research. A population-based cohort study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that electronic cigarettes or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are most commonly used among young Puerto Rican men who were born in the U.S. and speak English. Additionally, those who use ENDS have higher levels of education compared to those who do not smoke or only smoke traditional cigarettes.


According to Ayana April-Sanders, the lead author of the study and lecturer at Rutgers School of Public Health, ENDS products represent a potentially disruptive innovation to traditional tobacco use as young people and adolescents are experimenting with e-cigarettes.


This experiment indicates that the development of risks related to combustible cigarettes and nicotine dependence may lead to a "tipping point" phenomenon, resulting in a higher incidence of tobacco-related diseases and nicotine addiction among future generations compared to previous ones.


The data used in this study came from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), which is the largest and most representative cohort study of Hispanic and Latino populations in the United States. The study included a total of 16,415 individuals between the ages of 18 and 74 who identified as Hispanic or Latin American. These individuals resided in the Bronx, Chicago, Miami, or San Diego. Data from 11,275 of the participants was analyzed.


The average age of individuals is 47.3 (0.3) years, with a majority being female (52.1%). Furthermore, the majority of participants have Mexican backgrounds (39%), followed by Cuban (20.9%) and Puerto Rican (16.7%) backgrounds. Most individuals were not born in the United States (77%), with the majority (65.7%) having lived in the United States for 10 years or more.


One third of the population did not graduate high school, and over half of those who took the HCHS/SOL exam did not have a higher education level. Additionally, 53.7% of households earn less than $30,000 annually, but most reported having medical insurance.


Of all participants, 2% were current ENDS users and 10% were former ENDS users.


According to the study, users of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are typically younger (between 18 and 34 years old) than both non-smokers and smokers. They are predominantly male and more likely to have received a high school education or above. The report also showed that ENDS users have an income of $30,000 or more, were born in the United States and prefer to use English.


Furthermore, the study found that young people who have never smoked cigarettes are now using e-cigarettes, highlighting the potential health risks associated with prolonged exposure to toxic substances among American youths.


Given the nature of this study, the researchers acknowledge that there are certain limitations. It is based on self-reporting and conducted only in urban areas. However, despite these limitations, they believe that this study encourages further research on the link between e-cigarette use and racial and cultural factors among minority populations in the United States.


Our research findings can provide information for preventive and regulatory interventions targeting Hispanic and Latino communities in order to protect public health," said April-Sanders. "Efforts to disseminate public health information should consider targeting culturally-appropriate messaging to younger Hispanic and Latino individuals, and creating bilingual messaging that may be more suitable for older individuals who may not be as culturally adapted.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Ukrainian Lawmaker Proposes Ban on Vapes, Heated Tobacco Devices and Hookahs for Under-17s
Ukrainian Lawmaker Proposes Ban on Vapes, Heated Tobacco Devices and Hookahs for Under-17s
Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has registered a bill that would ban the use of tobacco products, vapes, hookahs, herbal smoking mixtures and heated tobacco devices by people under 17. The bill was introduced by People’s Deputy Georgiy Mazurashu and has already been sent to the relevant parliamentary committee. The author said one reason for the initiative is the prevalence of vaping among adolescents.
Apr.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Thailand’s DDC Reaffirms Nicotine Pouches Are Regulated Under the Tobacco Products Control Act
Thailand’s DDC Reaffirms Nicotine Pouches Are Regulated Under the Tobacco Products Control Act
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control has warned the public not to believe claims that nicotine pouches are harmless, saying the products contain high levels of nicotine that can enter the bloodstream through the mouth lining and affect the nervous system and brain.
Apr.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
2Firsts Data|China Vape Exports Sink to Three-Year April Low After Tax Rebate Ends, Falling to $694 Million
2Firsts Data|China Vape Exports Sink to Three-Year April Low After Tax Rebate Ends, Falling to $694 Million
China’s e-cigarette export value declined to $694 million in April 2026, marking the lowest April level in the past three years. The data is notable because April was the first full month after China removed export VAT rebates for certain e-cigarette products. Compared with April 2025, export value fell 20.9%; compared with April 2024, it was down 22.3%. Month-on-month, exports dropped 23.2% from March 2026.
Special Report
May.23
Thailand’s Bangkok Port Customs Reports E-Cigarette and Nitrous Oxide Seizure Worth More Than THB 27 Million
Thailand’s Bangkok Port Customs Reports E-Cigarette and Nitrous Oxide Seizure Worth More Than THB 27 Million
Bangkok Port Customs on April 28 announced the seizure of 52,000 complete e-cigarettes, 100 gallons of e-liquid and 126,226 canisters of nitrous oxide, with total economic damage exceeding THB 27 million, or about USD 831,178 based on an April 28 USD/THB rate of 32.484. The e-cigarette and e-liquid shipment was valued at THB 5.56 million, or about USD 171,161, while the nitrous oxide shipment was valued at THB 21.27 million, or about USD 654,784.
Apr.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Ukrainian Media: Polish Vape Distributor Evapify Allegedly Linked to Russian Businessman Named in U.S. “Russia Oligarch Report”
Ukrainian Media: Polish Vape Distributor Evapify Allegedly Linked to Russian Businessman Named in U.S. “Russia Oligarch Report”
According to an investigative report by Euromaidan Press, a Ukrainian English-language independent media outlet, Russian businessman Oleg Boyko has been sanctioned by Ukraine, Poland, Australia and Canada, but has not been added to the European Union’s sanctions list. The report alleges that Evapify, a Polish vape distributor with financial and personal ties to Boyko, holds a significant position in Poland’s disposable vape market.
News
Jun.01
FDA Launches Elsa 4.0 and Completes HALO Data Platform Consolidation
FDA Launches Elsa 4.0 and Completes HALO Data Platform Consolidation
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on May 6 that it has advanced its modernization initiative by launching Elsa 4.0, an upgraded internal AI tool, and consolidating more than 40 application and submission data sources, systems and portals into a new platform called HALO. FDA said the integration of HALO and Elsa will allow staff to query data and build workflows without manually uploading documents in each chat.
May.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai