Use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) in Colombia

Abstract

Background and Aims: The use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) in Colombia is a new phenomenon. However, there has been an increase in recent years and without any apparent explanation, is necessary to understand the characteristics of the use of ENDS in Colombia. Methods: This research is a secondary analysis study based on data from the 2020 National Study of Psychoactive Substance Use in the Colombian territory, which uses a household survey methodology. The study sample includes 49,756 people (48.3% male, 51.8% female), between 12 and 65 years old, distributed in the 32 departments of the country. Results: Five percent of Colombians between 12 and 65 years of age have used ENDS at some time in their life (67.8% male). The 12- to 17-year-old group started at 14.6 years average and exists a higher proportion of tobacco smokers among ENDS users in all prevalence. Conclusions: The use of ENDS is growing probably because of new marketing strategies that involve novel details and that generate curiosity, especially in the youngest. Some of these are technological designs, pleasant smells and flavors or absence of them and how easy it can be to hide them and consume them in places where it is forbidden to do. So, many young people and adolescents who had not used nicotine before, now do. There is a knowledge gap about ENDS, therefore they can affect the work has been done for decades in reducing nicotine consumption among young people and be the gateway to the consumption of cigarettes or other substances (marijuana).