title: Tripling use of electronic cigarettes among New Zealand adolescents between 2012 and 2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among adults has flourished in recent years. However, little is known about their use among adolescents. This article reports on data collected from a New Zealand national youth tobacco use survey in 2012 and 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Youth Insights Survey is a biennial self-complete survey of Year 10 students (predominately aged 14-15 years), with a sample size of 3,127 in 2012 and 2,919 in 2014. Ever-use of e-cigarettes was self-reported by participants in both years, and in 2014, e-cigarette ever-users also reported their reasons for first trying e-cigarettes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of e-cigarette ever-use tripled from 7.0% in 2012 to 20.0% in 2014. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, smoking status (including susceptibility), and other factors associated with tobacco smoking uptake, e-cigarette ever-use was associated with gender, smoking status, close friends' smoking behavior, and risky substance use. Among smokers, desire for a cigarette, quit intention, or past-year quit attempts did not predict e-cigarette ever-use. Irrespective of smoking status, curiosity was the most commonly cited reason for trying e-cigarettes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In 2014, one in five 14- to 15-year-olds had used e-cigarettes. Our data suggest that for adolescent smokers, cessation was not the main reason for trying e-cigarettes. Instead, most adolescents (smokers and nonsmokers) tried e-cigarettes out of curiosity. Our findings signal a need to continue monitoring the uptake of e-cigarettes among adolescents, including both experimental and long-term use. Controlling access and exposure to e-cigarettes among this young age group is also required.
authors.affiliation: Research and Evaluation, Health Promotion Agency, Wellington, New Zealand. Electronic address: j.white@hpa.org.nz.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Research and Evaluation, Health Promotion Agency, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Research and Evaluation, Health Promotion Agency, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Rhiannon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Newcombe
authors.affiliation: Research and Evaluation, Health Promotion Agency, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Co-substance use; Electronic nicotine delivery system; Surveillance and monitoring