# Antecedents and Consequences of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems in Underrepresented Youth

> **NIH NIH U54** · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $462,278

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT 
 Despite reductions in combustible cigarette consumption rates, approximately 5.6 million American 
children are expected to die prematurely from a smoking-related illness unless rates continue to decline.1 This 
statistic is particularly staggering when considering that electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are 
increasing in popularity.2 Prospective studies identifying antecedents and consequences of ENDS use, 
especially among underrepresented racial minority groups, are paramount. Furthermore, clarifying the negative 
health effects of ENDS use on the developing adolescent brain is critical. Targeting populations demonstrating 
the highest rates of ENDS use, including Hispanic/Latino and Black/African American high school students, will 
have the greatest impact on reducing mortality and morbidity from tobacco-related illness. This project's aims 
are three-fold. First, we will identify risk and protective factors that predict the onset of ENDS among high-risk 
adolescents without prior substance use, and whether or not they also predict cigarette onset. We will 
characterize factors specific to ENDS (e.g., flavoring, perceptions of harm), as well as general factors associated 
with substance use initiation including personality and social contexts. Second, given mixed findings on the role 
of ENDS as a potential gateway drug, we will also determine whether ENDS-users are more likely to transition 
to cigarettes, marijuana, and/or polysubstance use compared to non-users. ENDS specific factors, as well as 
factors associated with substance use escalation, including psychopathology and nicotine dependence, will be 
examined. Third, we will delineate neurobiological differences across adolescents having initiated ENDS use 
with those that have not using magnetic resonance imaging. We will examine whether ENDS use, similar to 
cigarette use, is linked with reduced cortical thickness in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and insula and altered 
functional activity in the striatum during reward processing. We will also determine if similar brain alterations 
precede use by scanning adolescents prior to nicotine exposure. This is important to delineate the 
neurobiological trajectories that may place an adolescent onto a path for addiction. We will focus on 
Hispanic/Latino and Black/African American high school students as ENDS use is highest among this group.3,4 
Identifying risk and protective factors specific to this population will help avert tobacco use disparities. 
Furthermore, although a majority of healthcare providers have heard of ENDS, most report knowing very little 
about these products including potential negative health consequences. Empirical evidence regarding the onset, 
potential transitions, and negative consequences on the brain of ENDS use is critical to help clinicians improve 
prevention programming and assist policy makers in deciding how to continue regulating these products. By 
identifyin...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10194591
- **Project number:** 5U54MD012393-05
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew T Sutherland
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $462,278
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-20 → 2022-09-19

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10194591

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10194591, Antecedents and Consequences of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems in Underrepresented Youth (5U54MD012393-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10194591. Licensed CC0.

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