LATEBREAKER
Substance Use
Prospective Association of Tobacco Retail Density with Youth Vaping Initiation Alyssa F. Harlow* Alyssa Harlow Laura K. Thompson Sandrah P. Eckel Adam M. Leventhal Myles G. Cockburn Jessica L. Barrington-Trimis
Background: Restricting density of tobacco retailers may prevent youth vaping via reduced access and fewer marketing exposures. However, studies on tobacco retailer density and youth vaping are scant and limited by cross-sectional designs or outdated timeframes.
Methods: We used 4 semi-annual data waves (Fall 2021-Spring 2023) of a prospective cohort study of Southern California youth who never vaped at baseline (n=3,248; mean baseline age=15y[range=12-17y]). Participant geocoded addresses at baseline (Sept-Dec 2021) were merged with spatial data on tobacco retailers from state registries (Sept 2021). We calculated the number of retailers within circular buffers surrounding participant homes (400m, 800m, 1600m buffers) and the density of retailers/KM2 within home census tracts (n=427 unique census tracts). Cox models estimated associations of tobacco retailer exposures at baseline with vaping initiation over 1.5 years of follow-up, adjusting for individual-level sociodemographic factors and neighborhood disadvantage and walkability.
Results: The mean number of tobacco retailers within home buffers was 0.6 for 400m (range=0-8), 2.6 for 600m (range=0-18), and 9.2 for 1600m buffers (range=0-37), with a mean census-tract density of 1.2 retailers/KM2 (range=0-13.8). The incident rate for vaping initiation was 3.9% per semi-annual study wave. There was little evidence for an association of number of tobacco retailers within buffers surrounding participant homes with vaping initiation. However, tobacco retailer density within home census tracts was positively associated with vaping initiation (adjusted HR for one-unit increase in density/KM2=1.08, 95%CI=1.01-1.16).
Conclusion: Tobacco retailer density near adolescent homes was associated with vaping initiation. Findings highlight the potential role of regulations that restrict retailer density in preventing youth vaping, and a need for further research to explore mechanisms underlying inconsistencies across exposure measures.