Tobacco and Nicotine Products Use Study

Tobacco and Nicotine Products Use Study Results

Smoking continues to be an important public health problem in Estonia. Around 30% of all 16–24-year-olds in Estonia smoke on a daily basis or as occasional smokers. Although consumption of traditional tobacco products is declining, the market and volume of alternative nicotine products (snus, hookah, e-cigarettes, etc) are growing. According to The National Institute for Health Development‘s survey on the health behaviour of the Estonian population in 2020, young people use alternative products the most. At the same time, the age of young people exposed to alternative nicotine products is worrying. According to the NIHD survey on drug use among Estonian schoolchildren, 1% of 11-year-olds, 6% of 13-year-olds and 10% of 15-year-olds have used e-cigarettes repeatedly (NIHD, 2019). This, in turn, makes it increasingly important to gather knowledge about alternative nicotine products and their consumption. 

The aim of the study is to analyse the use of different alternative nicotine products. This includes the combined use of nicotine and tobacco products among the Estonian population, especially young people. Additionally, the study seeks to find out the reasons for consuming different products. To discover the effect of attitudes and beliefs on consumption and how information about these products reaches potential consumers.

The study will use three main methods to achieve its purpose: 

1. analysis of secondary data, including an overview of the scientific literature, analysis of practices in other countries and other available data; 
2. qualitative data collection for a) accurate design of the survey and b) refinement and profiling of the survey results. For this, individual interviews and focus group interviews will be conducted with consumers of alternative nicotine products (including young people and adults) as well as with professionals and practitioners in the field;
3. quantitative data collection, i.e. an online survey that maps the use of alternative nicotine products, its causes and other relevant information among the general population and, more thoroughly, among young people. 

In summary, the study by IBS aims to create profiles of consumers of alternative nicotine products. The study will develop potential interventions to implement in Estonia, aiming to prevent and/or reduce the consumption of these products, particularly among young people.