Correlates of e-cigarette use for smoking cessation among clients in residential substance use disorder treatment

Knowledge, attitude, and frequency of hookah smoking among medical students

BACKGROUND

Hookah or waterpipe smoking use is a developing trend in the many populations, especially among the young age group. Hookah users are exposed to many of the same toxic compounds or by-products as cigarette users with a higher level of harmful effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess frequency, knowledge, attitude health behavior toward the risks and complication of cigarettes smoking and hookah in particular of Al-Kindy medical students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to April 2023 to assess frequency of Hookah smoking among 507 medical students at Al-Kindy Medical College. An online questionnaire by Google forms was used to collect the data.

RESULTS

The total participants students were 507 who studied at Al-kindy College of Medicine in different stages. Males were constituted 63.1% and the rest were females (36.9%). Regarding smoking habit, 31.95% (162) of them were smoker and the rest 68.05% (345) were not smoker(p = 0.000). Most of them had mixed type of smoking (cigar, hookah, and vape) (14.19%). (0.000) that it had an effect on general health (46.1%), lung (68.8%), larynx (67.1%), heart, blood pressure, diabetes but not bladder, stomach, COVID-19 transmission. There is a significant increase (63.5%) (p = 0.000) regarding their attitude that hookah had a significant amount of tobacco, no benefit of fruity flavors (62.3%), and no relaxation effect (90.53%).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant decrease in smoking habits among medical students due to their knowledge of its negative effects on health.

Electronic Cigarettes: an Overlooked Tool to Alleviate Disparities in Tobacco Use Disorder Among People with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

The remarkable decline in cigarette smoking since 1964 has plateaued; approximately 12.5% of Americans still smoke. People who continue to smoke are largely members of marginalized groups, such as people with behavioral health conditions (BHC), encompassing both mental health and substance use disorders. Certified smoking cessation interventions can increase smoking abstinence in trials in people with BHC, yet smoking rates remain markedly increased, leading to increased mortality from smoking-related diseases, and worsening health disparities. A novel approach tailored to the unique needs, characteristics, and circumstances of people with BHC is mandated. One promising approach, the electronic cigarette, has not been embraced in the USA, likely due to an understandable concern for non-smoking young people among whom electronic cigarettes have been popular. Recent data confirm that electronic cigarette use is declining among young people, yet cigarette smoking is not declining among people with BHC. We propose smoking cessation trials utilizing electronic cigarettes in people with BHC. To this goal, the UK has already begun allowing companies to submit their products for approval as medically licensed electronic cigarettes that can be prescribed as smoking cessation aids. Our proposal is timely, backed by evidence, and aims to save hundreds of thousands of American lives.

Interest in Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation Among Adults With Opioid Use Disorder in Buprenorphine Treatment: A Mixed-Methods Investigation

INTRODUCTION

Individuals in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) have high smoking rates and limited success with Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved cessation aids, suggesting need for novel approaches. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) might benefit this population, but e-cigarettes' acceptability for tobacco reduction or cessation among smokers in OUD treatment is not known.

METHODS

A cross-sectional mixed-methods study of 222 adults in OUD treatment with buprenorphine in the Boston, Massachusetts metropolitan area was conducted in 2020. We used quantitative and qualitative data to investigate individuals' experience with and interest in e-cigarettes and other methods for smoking cessation and assessed factors associated with interest in e-cigarette use.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty (72%) of the 222 participants were past 30-day cigarette smokers. They most frequently reported having ever used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT; 83%) and e-cigarettes (71%) for smoking cessation and most often indicated interest in using NRT (71%) and e-cigarettes (44%) for future smoking cessation. In multiple logistic regression analysis, interest in using e-cigarettes for future smoking cessation was independently associated with having ever used e-cigarettes for smoking cessation, current e-cigarette use, and perceiving e-cigarettes to be less harmful than cigarettes (ps < .05). In qualitative data, many current vapers/former smokers reported that e-cigarettes had been helpful for quitting cigarettes. For current smokers who currently or formerly vaped, frequently reported challenges in switching to e-cigarettes were concerns about replacing one addiction with another and e-cigarettes not adequately substituting for cigarettes.

CONCLUSIONS

E-cigarettes had a moderate level of acceptability for smoking cessation among cigarette smokers in OUD treatment. More research is warranted to test the efficacy of this approach.

IMPLICATIONS

Individuals in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) have high smoking rates and limited success with existing smoking cessation tools, suggesting a need for novel cessation treatment approaches. In this mixed-methods study of individuals receiving medication treatment for OUD with buprenorphine in Massachusetts in 2020, we found a moderate level of acceptability of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.