title: Perceptions of e-Cigarettes and Noncigarette Tobacco Products Among US Youth.
abstract: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are now the most commonly used tobacco product among US youth. The extent to which perceptions of e-cigarettes' harm and addictiveness differ from those of other products remains unknown, as does whether these perceptions have changed over time.
  
  
  
  Data from the 2012 and 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey, a repeated cross-sectional survey of grade 6 to 12 students, were used. Cross-tabulations and logistic regression models were used to describe correlates of perceptions of harm and addictiveness of e-cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco compared with cigarettes. Trends in perceptions of e-cigarettes' harm among different demographic groups were also assessed.
  
  
  
  In 2014, 73.0% believed that e-cigarettes were less harmful than cigarettes, compared with 20.2% for smokeless tobacco and 25.8% for cigars. By comparison, 47.1% believed that e-cigarettes were less addictive than cigarettes, compared with only 14.0% for smokeless tobacco and 31.5% for cigars. Use of each product was associated with a perception of decreased harm and addictiveness in adjusted analyses, as was being male, being a non-Hispanic white, and residing with a household member who used that product. Between 2012 and 2014, increasing numbers of US youth thought they were able to assess the relative harm of e-cigarettes and increasingly believed that e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes.
  
  
  
  Most US youth view e-cigarettes as less harmful and addictive than cigarettes. Far fewer think similarly about cigars and smokeless tobacco. Increases in e-cigarettes' perceived safety mirrors rapid increases observed in their use. Perceived safety correlates with use of each tobacco product.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; amrocks@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Amrock
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, and.|Brooklyn College, City University of New York, New York, New York; and.
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, and.|Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.|College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weitzman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D062789:Tobacco Products; D014481:United States