Impact of Columbus City Health Code 248.05 on Ohio State Students' Smoking Habits
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Date
2025-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Background: Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are devices that can be either disposable or reusable. They use heat to convert liquid into vapor, which is then inhaled to achieve the desired effects. Commonly known as vapes, e-cigarettes typically contain nicotine, an addictive substance, and can also include artificial flavor additives. Young adults are currently the population with the highest rates of e-cigarette use, which is greatly impacted by the availability of desirable flavors such as fruit, mint, and candy. Flavored e-cigarettes account for almost 90% of current adolescent e-cigarette use. Due to their popularity among younger populations, e-cigarettes have become the focus of various federal, state, and local restrictions. This study examines the impact of Columbus City Health Code 248.05, which prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco within city limits, on the smoking habits of Ohio State University (OSU) students. Specifically, it explores how this regulation affects young adults' access to and usage of flavored e-cigarettes, as well as the types of nicotine products they use.
Methods: Convenience sampling supplemented by various recruitment strategies to ensure a diverse pool of respondents was used to recruit a sample of twenty-four OSU students who were 21 years and older. Data was collected using a structured Qualtrics questionnaire created specifically for this study which utilizes questions from similar research. The questionnaire included sections on demographic information, e-cigarette preference, other tobacco product usage, access, and use.
Results: Data collected showed high rates of awareness of Columbus Health Code 248.05 but low rates of reported expected future impact on e-cigarette use in or around campus. Participants who responded reported age of first tobacco product used or age of initiation between 15-19 years, with flavored e-cigarettes being the most common first tobacco product used. Data showed participants used e-cigarettes ranging from one day a month to daily e-cigarette use. The average participant traveled 6.9 miles to obtain e-cigarettes, but half of the participants who responded reported travelling four miles or less to obtain e-cigarettes; this may suggest that the effects of Columbus Health Code 248.05 can be avoided by driving a short distance away. Of participants who responded, smoke shops and gas/convenience stores were the most popular purchase sites for e-cigarettes, which further underscores the accessibility of these products. The presence of multiple cessation attempts reported prior to and after the Columbus health code suggests the need for smoking cessation supportive measures on campus.
Conclusion: This study, which explored the effects of Columbus Health Code 248.05 on Ohio State University’s students’ smoking habits in or around campus, produced information which may be used to inform future research surrounding college student e-cigarette use as well as future cessation programs implemented on college campuses.
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Keywords
E-cigarette, Localized flavor bans, smoking habits, Ohio State student smoking habits, Columbus Health Code 248.05