Cigarette smoking trajectories in adult former smokers using the JUUL system

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we assessed cigarette smoking over 12 months among adult former smokers who newly purchased a JUUL Starter Kit (JSK). Methods: Prevalence of past 30-day smoking and factors associated with smoking were assessed among adult (age ≥ 21) former established smokers, stratified as recent (quitting ≤ 12 months) and long-term quitters (> 12 months), who purchased a JSK and completed ≥ 1 of 6 follow-up assessments (N = 4786). Results: Recent quitters had higher rates (16.6%-19.9%) of past 30-day smoking than long-term quitters (6.4%-9.2%) across the 12-month period; smoking prevalence did not significantly increase over time in either subgroup. Few participants (6.5% of recent quitters, 2.8% of long-term quitters) reported smoking at both 9 and 12 months, a pattern that might indicate persistent smoking. Past 30-day JUUL use remained high (≥ 87%) across the 12 months. Participants who used JUUL more frequently were less likely to smoke. Conclusions: Among former smokers who purchased JUUL, prevalence rates of smoking were low and stable across the 12-month period, suggesting there was not a growing cohort of former smokers resuming smoking. Smoking was more common in recent quitters than long-term quitters. Greater use of JUUL was associated with reduced odds of smoking resumption.