Vaping

The Topic

Vaping is emerging as a significant public health concern, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and state and local health agencies investigating a multistate outbreak of lung injury associated with use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products. 

Headshot of Jaime Sidani
Jaime Sidani

Our Expert's Take

School of Medicine researchers took a unique approach to a study of e-cigarette brand Juul's impact by using Twitter to investigate any mention of nicotine effects, symptoms of dependence and withdrawal in regards to Juul use. 

One of every five analyzed tweets referenced addiction-related themes, echoing news reports that “people are using Juul and experiencing what sound like acute effects of nicotine exposure and symptoms of dependence,” said lead author Jaime Sidani, assistant director of the Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health. Full results were published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence