Teen tobacco use: research and regulatory gaps

Is Adolescent Poly-tobacco Use Associated with Alcohol and Other Drug Use?

OBJECTIVES

To examine associations between current multiple tobacco product use, and current use of alcohol and marijuana, binge drinking, and lifetime use of marijuana, alcohol, and other drugs among US high school students.

METHODS

Using 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data (N = 13,583 high school students), logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine if single tobacco product or multiple tobacco product users are more likely to engage in other risk behaviors than zero tobacco product users, controlling for demographic variables.

RESULTS

Overall, 23% of the sample used tobacco products and 10% of students reported current use of at least 2 tobacco products. Among single tobacco product users, the odds for engaging in risk behaviors ranged from 3.3 to 9.9 compared to non-tobacco users (p < .0001). Among multiple tobacco product users, the odds ranged from 1.5 to 4.7 (p < .01) compared to single tobacco product users.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest dual users are significantly more likely to engage in risk behavior than non-users and single product users. Future interventions should consider identifying dual-users as at higher risk, and targeting multiple risk behaviors.

Correlates of other tobacco use in a community sample of young adults

BACKGROUND

Young adult use of alternative nicotine and tobacco products (ANTPs) has increased dramatically since 2000. While recent studies address ANTP prevalence, relatively little is known about predictors of use. This secondary analysis examined demographic, personality, and other substance use factors as predictors of past month ANTP use.

METHODS

Community participants (n=319; 51% female) completed an online survey during the initial stage of a larger study, for which all were required to have smoked cigarettes and consumed alcohol in the past month. The survey assessed demographics, impulsivity, and past-month frequency of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use.

RESULTS

The majority (61%) of participants endorsed ANTP use in the past 30days. The odds of ANTP use were associated with Caucasian ethnicity, younger age, more frequent alcohol use, and with the sensation seeking and positive urgency components of impulsivity.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that ANTP use among young adults is a substantial problem, and that there is a need for interventions that target tobacco use generally rather than cigarette smoking only.