School-wide Tobacco Survey

Our Tobacco Research in Youth (TRY) group develops and conducts school-based research studies that are aimed at assessing tobacco use in youth.

We examine a variety of tobacco products, but one current area of interest is the use of e-cigarettes by adolescents. E-cigarettes are gaining rapid popularity in the US, especially among youth. Thus, kids are initiating use of e-cigarettes without knowledge of the possible consequences, such as becoming nicotine dependent and/or transitioning to tobacco cigarettes.

We have been conducting surveys throughout several Connecticut schools to assess perceptions of tobacco products, rates of use, risk factors for initiation, and marketing effects of this product to gain a better understanding of the impact of the fast-changing tobacco product landscape.

We are working on expanding our sample to schools with diverse District Reference Groups (DRGs). The survey is a 20-minute anonymous survey administered school-wide during an open period for all students, such as advisory or homeroom. Yale staff will come to the school and provide all the materials and standard instructions to ease the process for the school staff. Schools are paid for their participation and students keep the pen or the stylus as a token of appreciation.

This very important data will allow us to assist the FDA in creating guidelines regarding e-cigarettes and other tobacco products and will have a substantial impact in adolescent health promotion.

TRY staff are more than happy to have a conversation with any administrator, teacher, parent, or student to discuss details and answer any questions

• Kong, G., Morean, M. E., Bold, K. W., Wu, R., Bhatti, H., Simon, P., & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2020). Dripping and vape tricks: Alternative e-cigarette use behaviors among adolescents. Addict Behav, 107, 106394. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106394
• Bold, K. W., Buta, E., Simon, P., Kong, G., Morean, M., Camenga, D., & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2019). Using latent class analysis to examine susceptibility to various tobacco products among adolescents. Nicotine Tob Res. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntz216Kong, G., Bold, K.W., Morean, M.E., Bhatti, H., Camenga, D.R., Jackson, A., & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2019). Appeal of JUUL use among adolescents. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 205, 107691, doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107691
• Morean, M.E., Bold, K.W., Kong, G., Gueorguieva, R., Camenga, D.R., Simon, P., Jackson, A., Cavallo, D.A., & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2019). Adolescents’ awareness of the nicotine strength and e-cigarette status of JUUL e-cigarettes. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 204, 107512. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.05.032.
• Krishnan-Sarin, S., Jackson, A., Morean, M.E., Kong, G., Bold, K.W., Camenga, D.R., Cavallo, D.A., Simon, P., & Wu, R. (2019). E-cigarette devices used by high-school youth. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 194, 395-400. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.10.022. PMID: 30497057. PMCID: PMC6312472.
• Morean, M.E., Kong, G., Cavallo, D.A., Camenga, D.R., & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2016). Nicotine concentration of e-cigarettes used by adolescents.Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 167, 224-227.
• Krishnan-Sarin, S., Morean, M., Camenga, D., Cavallo, D.A., & Kong, G. (2014). E-cigarette Use among High School and Middle School Adolescents in Connecticut.Nicotine & Tobacco Research, [Epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntu243
• Kong, G., Morean, M.E., Cavallo, D.A., Camenga, D.R., & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2014) Reasons for Electronic Cigarette Experimentation and Discontinuation among Adolescents and Young Adults. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 1–8. [Epub ahead of print] doi:10.1093/ntr/ntu257

For more information about the School Wide Tobacco Survey please contact:

Dana Cavallo, PhD
Email: dana.cavallo@yale.edu
Phone: 203-974-7607
Fax: 203-974-7606