Work

E‐cigarette use of young adults motivations and associations with combustible cigarette alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drugs

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the prevalence of e-cigarette use among adolescents and young adults has caught up to or eclipsed that of combustible cigarette use, there is relatively little known about (a) the link between e-cigarettes and other substances and (b) the reasons underlying this increase in e-cigarette use. To address this gap in knowledge, the current study examined associations between e-cigarette use and other substances and identified motives for e-cigarette use among young adults. METHODS: Participants included an ethnically diverse sample of African American, White, and Hispanic young adults (N = 662; 61% female) who were participating in an ongoing survey-based longitudinal study of health and risky behaviors. RESULTS: Hispanic, White, and male young adults reported significantly greater past year e-cigarette use compared to their African American and female counterparts. Bivariate correlations showed that use of e-cigarettes was positively associated with use of combustible cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, inhalants, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and misuse of over-the-counter and prescription medications. Furthermore, e-cigarette users reported a higher prevalence of substance use relative to those who did not use e-cigarettes. The taste of e-cigarettes was identified as an important motive for use. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Although the potential harm associated with e-cigarettes remains largely unknown, e-cigarettes appear to be a risk marker for the use of substances that are known to pose substantial health problems. Health care providers should screen for e-cigarette use, and youth substance use prevention programs should target the reduction of e-cigarette use with particular attention to addressing their taste appeal. (Am J Addict 2017;26:343-348).

Source: American Journal on Addictions

DOI: 10.1111/ajad.12530

Authors: Jeff R. Temple, Ryan C. Shorey, Yu Lu, Elizabeth Torres, Gregory L. Stuart, Vi D. Le

Institutions: The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Ohio University, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Language: English

Topic: Smoking Behavior and Cessation

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute of Justice, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development