The FDA is required to determine whether a manufacturer seeking PMTA or MRTP authorization has demonstrated that its product is “appropriate for the protection of the public health,” and that determination must consider whether the product is more likely than not to increase tobacco use among non-users, including youth. Few studies have examined perceptions or changes in tobacco use given FDA authorization to market e-cigarettes. The findings from this study will help inform these determinations and FDA’s messaging of their orders. It is critical that both pre- and post-market surveillance be done, including studies comprising youth as well as adults.

We conduct a number of studies examining adolescents’ and. young adults’ perceptions and use of all tobacco and cannabis products, including examining patterns of use; role of marketing, flavors, and products packaging in use; and ways to prevent and reduce use.

Funded by the NIH, this study uses student surveys to compare the effects of teaching students a new vaping prevention curriculum (You and Me, Together Vape-Free) within the Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit (TPT) with teaching students using other curriculums.

Funded by the NIH, this study uses student surveys to compare the effects of teaching students an updated cannabis awareness & prevention curriculum (Smart Talk: Cannabis Prevention & Awareness) within the Stanford Cannabis Awareness & Prevention Toolkit with teaching students using other curriculums. 

In collaboration with UCSF and Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher of Stanford University, this research project addresses research gaps via three specific aims: 

(1) Identify the impact of ST and other tobacco product characteristics, including packaging, characterizing flavors, and product design, on rural adolescents’ perceived harm, acceptability, and appeal of current and emerging smokeless, combustible, and alternative tobacco products

(2) Prospectively characterize tobacco use behaviors over time (e.g., initiation, cessation, changes in intensity, product switching, and poly-use) and how family and social factors and specific product characteristics predict transitions in behavior

(3) Evaluate the impact of use of specific tobacco products and product types on rural adolescents' exposure to nicotine and tobacco-specific nitrosamines, including use of potential new products