published_or_final_version / Criminology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Pharmacology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Pharmacology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The three research studies included in this dissertation aimed to examine the reasons for e-cigarette use among U.S. adults, and to examine the U.S. public opinion on allowing e-cigarette use where smoking is otherwise prohibited. Mixed (quantitative and qualitative) research methods were used. Data from an online survey (2012) and focus groups (2014) were analyzed. Among 307 survey respondents who had ever used e-cigarettes, the three most common reasons for e-cigarette use were curiosity (40.8%), the belief that “it helps people quit smoking” (19.1%), and perceiving e-cigarettes “less harmful than regular cigarettes” (9.3%). About 40% of U.S. adults were uncertain whether e-cigarette use should be allowed in smoke-free public areas, 37% opposed, while 23% favored allowing their use in smoke-free environments. The majority of the focus group participants have used e-cigarettes to complement regular cigarette smoking and intake nicotine where smoking is restricted. E-cigarette use was viewed to be less harmful and more convenient than smoking regular cigarettes. The findings of the three studies suggest that curiosity about e-cigarettes lead to experimentation and the convenience to use e-cigarettes in smoke-free areas lead to continual use. With impending regulation and the changing e-cigarette landscape, there is a need for continued monitoring and research on reasons for and attitudes about e-cigarette use, and on public opinion pertaining to e-cigarette use in smoke-free areas.

Due to health problems and the negative externalities associated with cigarette consumption, many governments try to discourage cigarette consumption by increasing its price through taxation. However, cigarette, like the other addictive goods, is viewed as that it is not sensitive to demand rules and the market forces. This study analyses the effect of price increase on cigarette consumption. We used Swedish time series data from 1970 to 2010. Our results reveal that though cigarette is addictive substance its demand is sensitive to changes in the price. Estimates from this study indicate short-run price-elasticity of -0.29 and the long run price elasticity of -0.47.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 1999. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 107 p. : ill. (some col.) Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 98-107).

Thesis (M.P.H.)--Georgia State University, 2008. / Title from file title page. Michael Eriksen, committee chair; Francis McCarty, Melissa Taylor, committee members. Description based on contents viewed July 24, 2009. Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-89).

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-41).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1995.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1995.