After the FDA regulations: Youth use of flavored tobacco products

Flavored tobacco products, which are particularly attractive to youth, have become increasingly common. The attractiveness of these products to youth encourages them to start using tobacco. Despite their candy-like flavors, these products are as addictive as other tobacco products. On September 22, 2009 the Food and Drug Administration put in place a ban on cigarettes containing certain characterizing flavors. However, at this time it is not known whether this has decreased the use of flavored tobacco products among youth. Youth may have switched from flavored cigarettes to flavored cigars and/or smokeless tobacco. Starting in 2002 the Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Survey assessed the frequency of use of flavored cigarettes and cigars by students in grades 9-12. The same items were included on the surveys conducted in 2005, 2007, and 2009. An item assessing frequency of use of flavored smokeless tobacco was added to the 2009 survey. All these questions were retained in the 2011 survey. This presentation will assess whether 1) students continue to use flavored cigarettes 2) have increased their use of flavored cigars and/or smokeless tobacco, and 3) whether they have decreased their overall use of flavored tobacco products. Data were analyzed for both all students and for students who use tobacco. No statistically significant differences were found over time or before and after the regulation implementation.