Innovating health promotion efforts in response to youth tobacco use

Today’s tobacco use landscape has shifted since the introduction of e-cigarettes, which have become highly popular amongst youth. Nicotine addiction, subsequent smoking, and increased heart and lung disease risk are some of the major concerns brought forward within the public health community in relation to e-cigarette use, with youth disproportionately at risk for these detrimental impacts. Compounding this new landscape of tobacco use include socio-environmental factors that impact use, including rapid advances in technologies (e.g., new social media platforms; smartphone applications). As a result, the new generation of tobacco users are not the same as previous generations, and efforts to protect young people from exposure to tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapor must similarly shift to adapt to this new landscape. I am responding to this need through my program of research, whereby responsive, youth-driven evidence is being harnessed to develop youth-friendly tobacco control resources for delivery on their preferred digital platforms. Ultimately, this research will lead to optimal solutions to curb tobacco use and reduce tobacco-related disease, situating BC as a leader in adapting to tobacco use of today.