Comparing Factors Related to Any Conventional Cigarette Smokers, Exclusive New Alternative Product Users, and Non-Users among Japanese Youth: A Nationwide Survey

Heated tobacco product use, its correlates, and reasons for use among Mexican smokers

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the use of novel heated tobacco products (HTPs) in low- and middle-income countries. We examined among smokers in Mexico the prevalence and correlates of HTP use, as well as reasons for using HTPs.

METHODS

We analyzed data from five surveys (November 2019-March 2021) of an open cohort of adult smokers (n = 6500), including an oversample of those who also use e-cigarettes. Mixed-effects multinomial logistic models were used to estimate associations between study variables and current HTP use or prior HTP trial relative to never trying HTPs.

RESULTS

The weighted prevalence of current HTP use was 1.1%. Independent correlates of current HTP use included smoking frequency, intention to quit, e-cigarette use, having partners/family-members who use e-cigarettes, friends who use HTPs, and exposure to HTP information inside/outside tobacco shops. Having partners/family members who smoke and not knowing about the harm of HTPs relative to cigarettes were associated with lower likelihood of current HTP use. Having tried HTPs was more likely among light daily smokers, those with family who use HTPs and exposure to HTP information outside shops and on newspapers/magazines. Among current users, the top reasons for using HTPs were greater social acceptability (50.6%) and lower perceived harm (34.9%) relative to cigarettes.

CONCLUSIONS

Uptake of HTPs appears relatively low among Mexican smokers, and correlates of use are similar to those for e-cigarette use. Further research is needed to determine if HTPs use promotes or impedes smoking cessation, given current HTP users are also likely to use various nicotine products.

Cigarette, E-Cigarette and Waterpipe Use among Young Adults: Differential Cognitions about These Three Forms of Smoking

Background: Polytobacco use is common among young adults. The purpose of the present study was to investigate a number of cognitions related to the use of three tobacco products (cigarettes, e-cigarettes and waterpipes) among young adults. Methods: Participants (n = 799, 59.4% women) aged 18–25 years old (M = 21.8, SD = 1.7) completed an online tobacco cognitions questionnaire. Results: For all three tobacco products, there was significantly more agreement with the cognition “I would smoke if my best friend offered” among tobacco users (used one or more tobacco products) than among non-users. For e-cigarettes and waterpipes, there was significantly more agreement with the cognition “It would be easy to quit these products” than was reported by non-users. Polytobacco users (three tobacco products) endorsed the cognitions scale (the six cognition items were combined to form a single cognitions scale for each tobacco product) significantly more than non-users for cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Furthermore, waterpipe users, polytobacco users, dual users and single users all endorsed the combined cognitions scales more strongly than non-users. Conclusions: Efforts to prevent polytobacco use should ensure that young adults have the necessary self-efficacy to resist peer pressure and provide them with clear information about the health risks associated with using alternative tobacco products.