Symptoms of tobacco dependence among middle and high school tobacco users - Data from the 2019-2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have indicated that youth who use tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco, demonstrate dependence symptoms. However, the tobacco marketplace has expanded dramatically in recent years, and few studies have examined dependence symptoms among youth who use novel products. This study combined 2019-2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey data to report the prevalence and determinants of tobacco dependence symptoms among U.S. middle and high school current (past 30-day) tobacco users. METHODS: Prevalence estimates were calculated to examine dependence outcomes and other covariates by user groups (single product users and multiple product users). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of tobacco dependence among current users of cigarettes, cigars (regular cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars), e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, hookah, pipe tobacco, bidis, and smokeless tobacco products (chew, snuff, dip, snus, and dissolvables). RESULTS: Among current tobacco users, 15.7 % (95 % CI: 14.2-17.3) reported wanting to use tobacco within 30 min of waking and 28.3 % (95 % CI: 26.3-30.5) reported strong cravings for tobacco in the past 30 days. Nearly-two-thirds of current users were single product users, of which 80.5 % reported using e-cigarettes. Reporting of dependence symptoms was generally associated with multiple product use, higher frequency of use, earlier initiation age, and use of flavored products. CONCLUSIONS: Among U.S. adolescents, a considerable amount of current tobacco product users, even infrequent users, reported symptoms of dependence. These findings highlight the continued importance of prevention strategies for youth tobacco experimentation and progression to regular use.

Characteristics of Past 30-Day Cigar Smoking, U.S. Adolescents, 2020.

INTRODUCTION: Data from the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey indicated that cigars were the most commonly used combustible tobacco product in the past 30 days among youth. This study uses 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey data to report the prevalence estimates and characteristics of current cigar use, overall and by cigar type, among middle- and high-school students in the U.S. METHODS: Weighted prevalence estimates and 95% CIs were calculated in 2020 for overall cigar use and by cigar type. RESULTS: In 2020, current cigar smoking was reported by 3.5% of students (1.5% middle school and 5.0% high school). Cigarillos (44.1%) were the most reported cigar type smoked, followed by regular (33.1%) and little (22.6%) cigars; 21.8% did not know the cigar type. Most cigar smokers were in high school (81.2%) and were male (52.4%), and 42.3% were non-Hispanic White. More than half of cigar smokers reported smoking flavored cigars (58.3%), with fruit (61.5%), candy/desserts/other sweets (34.0%), and mint (30.4%) as the most frequently reported flavor categories. Approximately 1 in 5 current cigar smokers (18.4%) smoked on ≥20 days in the past 30 days, and 78.8% reported multiple tobacco product use. CONCLUSIONS: Cigar smoking was highest among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic youth. More than half of youth cigar smokers reported using flavored cigars, and most were also currently using other tobacco products. Cigarillos were the most reported cigar type used by youth, followed by regular cigars. These findings highlight the continued importance of youth tobacco use reduction strategies and can inform policy development.

The DoD Global, Laboratory-based, Influenza Surveillance Program: summary for the 2013-2014 influenza season.

This report for the 2013-2014 influenza season summarizes the results of influenza surveillance carried out by the DoD Global, Laboratory-based, Influenza Surveillance Program, which is managed by the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Epidemiology Consult Service and Epidemiology Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. Sentinel sites submitted 3,903 specimens for clinical diagnostic testing and 1,163 (29.8%) were positive for influenza virus. The predominant influenza subtype was influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, identified in 79.2% of all influenza-positive specimens. The other most common subtypes were influenza A(H3N2) (10.5%) and influenza B (10.1%). In August 2014, a human case of influenza A(H3N2) variant was identified in a patient with a history of exposure to swine. Adjusted vaccine effectiveness (VE) was calculated among 1,016 military dependents and retirees in the U.S. and was found to be 44.8% for all vaccine types. Uncertainties and other limitations associated with estimating VE are discussed.

Influenza A(H3N2) outbreak at Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, 2014.

In February 2014, the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Epidemiology Consult Service provided support in response to a moderate outbreak of influenza at the Transit Center at Manas (Kyrgyzstan). A total of 215 individuals presented with influenza-like illness symptoms from 3 December 2013 through 28 February 2014. There were 85 specimens positive for influenza (18 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 65 influenza A(H3N2), one influenza A/not subtyped, and one influenza B); six specimens were positive for other respiratory viruses (one human metapneumovirus, two parainfluenza, and three rhinovirus/enterovirus) and eight specimens were negative. Twenty-two of the specimens that were positive for influenza were sequenced and were not remarkably different from the strains seen during routine surveillance for the 2013-2014 season or from specimens collected at other deployed sites.