# Measuring the Public Health Impact of State-Level Flavored Tobacco Bans on Youth and Adult Tobacco Use

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $243,125

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY. Massachusettsis the first state inthe nation to restrict retail sales of all flavored
tobacco products including e-cigarettes, combustible and smokeless tobacco to 21-and over smoke shops.
The new MA law presents a time-limited opportunity to obtain baseline information on the initial impacts of the
law on youth and adults' tobacco use and adults' quit attempts following the law's implementation. It is also
critical to examine barriers and facilitators of implementing the law's provisions across the state during this
initial period. Knowledge gained from this research would provide much needed and time-sensitive evidence to
inform other states on the benefits or unintended effects of additional restrictions. Our long-term goals are to
prevent all forms of tobacco product use among youth and assist youth and adult tobacco users with evidence-
based cessation treatments. The objectives of this study are to estimate the initial impacts of the new MA law
on tobacco use behaviors among youth and adults and quit attempts among adults in MA compared with four
adjacent New England states and to identify the barriers and facilitators during the initial period of
implementing the MA law. Our scientific rationale is based on the Integrated Implementation and Mediation
Model of Tobacco Control Policy. We will obtain pre-law data of tobacco use and quit attempts (2019 Youth
Risk Behavioral Survey and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) and collect post-law data through
monthly repeated cross-sectional online surveys among youth ages 13-17 (n=1800) and adult current tobacco
users ages 18+ (n=1800). Using a quasi-experimental design, we will perform propensity score difference-in-
differences (DID) analyses to estimate changes in the study outcomes pre- and post-law among participants in
MA and 4 control states (NH, VT, RI, and CT). We will examine the post-law monthly trends in study outcomes
in MA and 4 control states. We will conduct key informant interviews with 32 stakeholders in MA (school district
superintendents, principals, health providers, health department officials, tobacco retailers) to assess
facilitators and barriers of implementing the new law. Our specific aims are: 1) Estimate the pre- and post-law
changes in youth and adult use of tobacco products and adult quit attempts in MA compared with 4 control
states (NH, VT, RI, and CT), 2) Examine the post-law trends in youth and adult use of tobacco products and
adult quit attempts in MA and 4 control states (NH, VT, RI, and CT), 3) Identify policy implementation
facilitators and barriers among key stakeholders in MA. Impact: This study will provide time-sensitive data to
evaluate the initial impacts of the new MA law on tobacco use and quit attempts compared with less restrictive
policies in control states in New England. The study findings will aid in implementing evidence-informed
tobacco control regulations in states to prevent youth tobacco use and reduce the populatio...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10100799
- **Project number:** 1R21DA052421-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Andy SL Tan
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $243,125
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10100799

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10100799, Measuring the Public Health Impact of State-Level Flavored Tobacco Bans on Youth and Adult Tobacco Use (1R21DA052421-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10100799. Licensed CC0.

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