The Relative Reinforcing Value of Menthol Among Young Adult Cigarette Smokers: Results From a Behavioral Choice Task.

INTRODUCTION: Menthol cigarettes are associated with experimentation and progression to regular use. Although reinforcement processes likely underlie menthol's appeal, the reinforcing value of menthol cigarettes remains unknown. AIMS AND METHODS: This study examined the relative reinforcing value (RRV) of menthol versus nonmenthol cigarettes in young adult menthol (n = 54) and nonmenthol (n = 53) smokers, and differences in menthol's RRV by race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Overnight abstinent participants completed a choice task assessing willingness to "work" to click targets on a computer screen to earn menthol or nonmenthol cigarette puffs. A progressive ratio schedule was used where the menthol target had to be clicked progressively more times, over 10 trials, to earn a menthol cigarette puff, while clicks for the nonmenthol target were fixed across trials. RRV for menthol was defined by the breakpoint, or the highest trial (out of to 10) completed for a menthol cigarette puff. Number of clicks for menthol and nonmenthol puffs were also examined. RESULTS: Menthol smokers worked harder for menthol versus nonmenthol cigarette puffs (breakpoint = 9.17; ~1236 clicks vs. 24 clicks). Breakpoint was higher among Hispanic (6.49) versus NH White (4.83) and NH non-White smokers (4.43). In exploratory analyses of interactions of menthol preference with race and ethnicity, nonmenthol Hispanic smokers worked harder for menthol cigarette puffs versus NH non-White and NH White nonmenthol smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Menthol cigarettes are highly reinforcing for young adult menthol and Hispanic smokers. A menthol ban may reduce addiction risk among younger individuals and some minoritized groups of smokers. IMPLICATIONS: This study provides evidence of the greater relative reinforcing value of menthol compared to nonmenthol cigarettes among young adults who had a cigarette flavor preference, suggesting increased addiction risk of menthol cigarettes. Young adult menthol smokers and Hispanic (vs. non-Hispanic) smokers worked harder to earn menthol (vs. nonmenthol) cigarette puffs. Findings add to the evidence base supporting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) intent to ban menthol in cigarettes. Further, prevention messaging campaigns and cessation programs should take into account the reinforcing value of menthol in cigarettes, especially in vulnerable and at-risk populations.

First use of cannabis compared to first use of alcohol and tobacco: Associations with single and poly-substance use behavior.

INTRODUCTION: Young adults report high rates of current cannabis use. The proliferation of legalized cannabis in the US has led to greater access and availability, causing cannabis to become the new "gateway" drug. This study examined the prevalence of trying cannabis before alcohol or tobacco and the association of initiation with cannabis first with single and poly-substance use in young adults. METHODS: METHODS: Data were analyzed from young adults (n=8062) in Waves 1 through 5 (2013-2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study who had ever tried alcohol, cannabis, or tobacco and provided age at first use of these substances. Weighted multivariable models examined associations between cannabis initiation before, at the same age, or after initiating alcohol or tobacco use with past 30-day substance use (alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, poly-substance use) in a subsequent wave (Waves 2-5). RESULTS: Initiating cannabis before alcohol and tobacco (6%) was rare. In adjusted regression models, initiating cannabis before alcohol and tobacco was associated with increased odds of past 30-day cannabis use, past 30-day tobacco use, and past 30-day polysubstance use and decreased odds of past 30-day alcohol use. Initiating cannabis at the same age as either alcohol or tobacco, or trying cannabis after these substances was associated with increased odds of all substance use outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis initiation before alcohol and tobacco is uncommon and may even protect against future alcohol use. Deterring cannabis initiation with multiple substances could have public health benefits.

Birth Outcomes Associated With E-Cigarette and Non-E-Cigarette Tobacco Product Use During Pregnancy: An Examination of PATH Data Waves 1-5.

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations of prenatal e-cigarette use to pregnancy and birth outcomes. METHODS: Currently pregnant women (n = 1 037) from Waves 1 through 4 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study who had pregnancy or live birth outcome data in a subsequent wave (Waves 2-5; 2013 to 2019). Weighted bivariate and multivariable models\ examined associations between past 30-day tobacco use assessed during pregnancy (any past 30-day e-cigarette use, any past 30-day non-e-cigarette tobacco use, or no past 30-day tobacco use) with adverse pregnancy (miscarriage, abortion, ectopic or tubal pregnancy, stillbirth) and birth outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defect, placenta previa, placental abruption, pre-eclampsia) reported in the subsequent wave. RESULTS: Approximately 1% of pregnant women reported past 30-day exclusive e-cigarette use and 3.2% used e-cigarettes and one other tobacco product. Compared to no tobacco use, past 30-day e-cigarette use (exclusive or use with another tobacco product) during pregnancy was not associated with increased odds of an adverse pregnancy or birth outcome in bivariate or multivariable models. Past 30-day non-e-cigarette tobacco use was associated with increased odds of an adverse pregnancy outcome in multivariable models, but not an adverse live birth outcome. Compared to past 30-day cigarette use, past 30-day e-cigarette use during pregnancy was not associated with lowered odds of a birth or pregnancy outcome. CONCLUSIONS: E-cigarette use during pregnancy is rare. Understanding the positive and negative impacts of pre-natal e-cigarette use on women's health may guide public health messaging campaigns. IMPLICATIONS: Results showed that past 30-day e-cigarette use during pregnancy was low, with cigarette smoking remaining the most prevalent form of tobacco use during pregnancy. Current e-cigarette use during pregnancy used either exclusively or with another tobacco product, was not associated with increased risk of an adverse pregnancy, or birth outcome. A small sample size of e-cigarette users and limited information on quantity and frequency of e-cigarette use before and during pregnancy may limit conclusions. Healthcare providers may use this information when discussing the harms and consequences associated with e-cigarette and tobacco use during pregnancy.

Metadata Correction: Mobile Phone Ownership Is Not a Serious Barrier to Participation in Studies: Descriptive Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.8123.].

Mobile Phone Ownership Is Not a Serious Barrier to Participation in Studies: Descriptive Study.

BACKGROUND: Rather than providing participants with study-specific data collection devices, their personal mobile phones are increasingly being used as a means for collecting geolocation and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data in public health research. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to (1) describe the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents to an online survey screener assessing eligibility to participate in a mixed methods study collecting geolocation and EMA data via the participants' personal mobile phones, and (2) examine how eligibility criteria requiring mobile phone ownership and an unlimited text messaging plan affected participant inclusion. METHODS: Adult (≥18 years) daily smokers were recruited via public advertisements, free weekly newspapers, printed flyers, and word of mouth. An online survey screener was used as the initial method of determining eligibility for study participation. The survey screened for twenty-eight inclusion criteria grouped into three categories, which included (1) cell phone use, (2) tobacco use, and (3) additional criteria. RESULTS: A total of 1003 individuals completed the online screener. Respondents were predominantly African American (605/1003, 60.3%) (60.4%), male (514/1003, 51.3%), and had a median age of 35 years (IQR 26-50). Nearly 50% (496/1003, 49.5%) were unemployed. Most smoked menthol cigarettes (699/1003, 69.7%), and had a median smoking history of 11 years (IQR 5-21). The majority owned a mobile phone (739/1003, 73.7%), could install apps (86.8%), used their mobile phone daily (89.5%), and had an unlimited text messaging plan (871/1003, 86.8%). Of those who completed the online screener, 302 were eligible to participate in the study; 163 were eligible after rescreening, and 117 were enrolled in the study. Compared to employed individuals, a significantly greater proportion of those who were unemployed were ineligible for the study based on mobile phone inclusion criteria (P<.001); yet, 46.4% (333/717) of the individuals who were unemployed met all mobile phone inclusion criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Inclusion criteria requiring participants to use their personal mobile phones for data collection was not a major barrier to study participation for most respondents who completed the online screener, including those who were unemployed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02261363; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02261363 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6wOmDluSt).

The relationship between past-month marijuana, cigarette, and cigar use among older adults in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Previous research indicates that marijuana use may be interrelated with combustible tobacco use among U.S. adolescents and young adults. However, little is known about this relationship during older adulthood. The purpose of this study was: 1) examine the prevalence of past-month marijuana, cigarette and cigar use, and 2) assess the associations between demographic and tobacco-use variables with past-month marijuana use, among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults 50 years and older. METHODS: Data are from the public-use files of the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The sample consisted of 6325 adults aged ≥50 years. RESULTS: Overall, 2.98% (N=216) of the sample reported past-month marijuana use; higher prevalence was noted for those who were past-month users of cigarettes (15.62%, N=1162) and lower prevalence was noted for those who were past-month users of cigars (2.68%, N=176). After accounting for covariables, past-month cigarette use was the strongest predictor of past-month marijuana use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=5.19, 95% CI, 3.51-7.66). Additionally, past-month cigar use showed a positive association with past-month marijuana use (AOR=2.41, 95% CI, 1.23-4.72). CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco prevention, cessation, and control efforts that target older adults should be tailored effectively to address the use of marijuana and other combustible tobacco products.

Utilization, receptivity and reactivity to Interactive Voice Response daily monitoring in risky drinking smokers who are motivated to quit.

INTRODUCTION: Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology has become an increasingly popular and valid method for collecting Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) data on a variety of health-risk behaviors, including daily alcohol use and cigarette smoking, and for stimulating behavior change. However, very little research has evaluated the parameters of IVR compliance and reactivity in respondents who may have greater problem severity than samples previously examined in published IVR studies. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of use, receptivity and reactivity to IVR monitoring in 77 untreated risky drinking smokers who were motivated to quit within the next 6 months. METHODS: Respondents completed twice daily IVR assessments for 28 days and were re-assessed immediately after IVR to measure receptivity and reactivity to daily monitoring and six months post-baseline. RESULTS: Mean compliance rate was 70.6%, with a morning rate of 72.4% and an evening compliance rate of 68.9% out of all possible surveys. IVR assessments of drinking and smoking were significantly associated with baseline paper-pencil reports of the same. African-American participants and those who reported more daily stressful events were more compliant. Between the baseline session and the 6-month follow-up, 68% of the sample reported engaging in some form of smoking behavior change (50% reduction in CPD, a quit attempt, past-month continuous abstinence). Nearly 80% reported increased awareness of their behavior due to the IVR and 40% reported intentional behavior change from IVR monitoring. The odds of making a quit attempt at the 6-month follow-up were significantly higher among respondents who reported making purposeful changes to their smoking as a result of IVR monitoring (AOR=3.25, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Reactivity was associated with behavior change outcomes. IVR may be a useful tool for motivating behavior change in smokers with alcohol-use problems.

Young adult non-smokers' exposure to real-world tobacco marketing: results of an ecological momentary assessment pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this pilot study were to assess and characterize non-current smoking young adults' exposure to tobacco marketing through an ecological momentary assessment protocol. METHODS: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) consists of repeated measurement of momentary phenomena and is well-suited to capture sporadic experiences in the real-world, such as exposure to tobacco marketing. EMA has the potential to capture detailed information about real-world marketing exposures in ways that reduce recall bias and increase ecological validity. In this study, young adults (n = 31; ages 18-25) responded to random prompts regarding their momentary exposure to tobacco marketing via text messages on their smartphones for 14 days (n = 1798 observations). Unadjusted and adjusted analyses were conducted using multilevel logistic regression to assess the odds of exposure accounting for correlation of multiple repeated measures within individuals while controlling for variability between individuals. RESULTS: Respondents reported, on average, two momentary exposures to tobacco advertising in the 14-day study period. In adjusted analyses, African-American (aOR 3.36; 95% CI 1.07, 10.54) and Hispanic respondents (aOR 5.08; 95% CI 1.28, 20.13) were more likely to report exposure to tobacco advertising. Respondents were also more likely to report exposure when also exposed to others using tobacco products and when they were at stores compared with at home (aOR 14.82; 95% CI 3.61, 60.88). CONCLUSION: Non-smoking young adults report exposure to tobacco marketing particularly at the point-of-sale, with the highest likelihood of exposure among African-American and Hispanic young people. EMA protocols can be effective in assessing the potential impact of point-of-sale tobacco marketing on young adults.

Epidemiology of Major Depressive Disorder Disability in the US Military: FY 2007-2012.

This study assesses the incidence of major depressive disorder (MDD) disability discharge and retirement in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force and describes MDD comorbidity. Service members with a disability discharge for either MDD (n = 2,882) or any nonpsychiatric disability (n = 56,145), between fiscal years 2007 and 2012, were included in the study population. Those with MDD disability at first evaluation but not at last evaluation were excluded. The incidence of MDD disability discharge increased significantly in the Army and Air Force between fiscal years 2007 and 2012. MDD disability retirement significantly increased in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Females, and those who experienced at least one deployment, had higher incidence rates of MDD disability discharge. All services included spinal diseases and posttraumatic stress disorder in their top five comorbid categories. Given the association between trauma and MDD, further research into the role of both combat exposure and injury on MDD is merited.

Facility-level, state, and financial factors associated with changes in the provision of smoking cessation services in US substance abuse treatment facilities: Results from the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services 2006 to 2012.

Cigarette smoking is common among patients in substance abuse treatment. Tobacco control programs have advocated for integrated tobacco dependence treatment into behavioral healthcare, including within substance abuse treatment facilities (SATFs) to reduce the public health burden of tobacco use. This study used data from seven waves (2006 to 2012) of the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (n=94,145) to examine state and annual changes in the provision of smoking cessation services within US SATFs and whether changes over time could be explained by facility-level (private vs public ownership, receipt of earmarks, facility admissions, acceptance of government insurance) and state-level factors (cigarette tax per pack, smoke free policies, and percent of CDC recommended tobacco prevention spending). Results showed that the prevalence of SATFs offering smoking cessation services increased over time, from 13% to 65%. The amount of tax per cigarette pack, accepting government insurance, government (vs private) ownership, facility admissions, and CDC recommended tobacco prevention spending (per state) were the strongest correlates of the provision of smoking cessation programs in SATFs. Facilities that received earmarks were less likely to provide cessation services. Adult smoking prevalence and state-level smoke free policies were not significant correlates of the provision of smoking cessation services over time. Policies aimed at increasing the distribution of tax revenues to cessation services in SATFs may offset tobacco-related burden among those with substance abuse problems.

Comparison of Ecological Momentary Assessment Versus Direct Measurement of E-Cigarette Use With a Bluetooth-Enabled E-Cigarette: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Assessing the frequency and intensity of e-cigarette use presents special challenges beyond those posed by cigarette use. Accurate measurement of e-cigarette consumption, puff duration, and the stability of these measures over time will be informative for estimating the behavioral and health effects of e-cigarette use. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the accuracy of self-reported e-cigarette puff counts collected via ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to objective puff count data collected by a Bluetooth-enabled e-cigarette device and to examine the feasibility and acceptability of using a second-generation e-cigarette among adult smokers. METHODS: A total of 5 adult smokers were enrolled in a longitudinal parent study assessing how e-cigarette use affects cigarette use among e-cigarette-naïve smokers. Using a text message-based EMA system, participants reported e-cigarette puffs for 2 weeks. Participants were also given a Bluetooth-enabled e-cigarette (Smokio) that passively collected puff counts and puff duration. Comparisons between mean reports of Smokio (device-report) and EMA (self-report) use were evaluated using paired t tests. Correlation and agreement between device- and self-reports were evaluated using Pearson correlation and the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), respectively. A linear mixed effect model was used to determine the fixed effect of timing and Smokio-reported daily puffs on report accuracy. We examined the relationship between time of day and reporting accuracy using Tukey's test for multiple pairwise comparisons. RESULTS: A total of 5 African American participants, 4 men and 1 woman, who ranged in age from 24 to 59 years completed the study, resulting in 5180 observations (device-report) of e-cigarette use. At baseline, participants reported smoking for 5 to 25 years and consumed a mean of 7 to 13 cigarettes per day (CPD); 4 smoked within 30 minutes of waking. At the 30-day follow-up, CPD range decreased to 1 to 3 cigarettes; 4 participants reported past 7-day e-cigarette use, and 1 participant reported no cigarette smoking in the past 7 days. Over 2 weeks of e-cigarette use, participants took an average of 1074 e-cigarette (SD 779.0) puffs per person as captured by the device reports. Each participant took a mean of 75.0 (SD 58.8) puffs per day, with each puff lasting an average of 3.6 (SD 2.4) seconds. Device reports captured an average of 33.3 (SD 47.8) more puffs per person per day than the self-reported e-cigarette puffs. In 87% of days, participants underestimated the number of puffs they had taken on the Smokio. There was significant moderate correlation (r=.47, P<.001) but poor agreement (pc=0.31, 95% CI 0.15-0.46) between the device- and self-reported data. Reporting accuracy was affected by amount and timing of e-cigarette use. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to self-reported e-cigarette use, the Bluetooth-enabled device captured significantly more e-cigarette use and allowed for examination of puff duration in addition to puff counts. A Bluetooth-enabled e-cigarette is a powerful and feasible tool for objective collection of e-cigarette use behavior in the real world.

Feasibility of Ecological Momentary Assessment of Daily Sexting and Substance Use Among Young Adult African American Gay and Bisexual Men: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that sexualized text communication ("sexting") is associated with substance use and sexual risk behaviors among young adults, yet little is known about this relationship among young adult African American gay and bisexual men, a population disproportionately impacted by HIV in the United States. Rapid advances in mobile phone technology indicate a clear need for research using mobile health (mHealth) methods such as ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to serve as a viable counterpart to retrospective evaluation methods by using real-time data collection to assess sexting and substance use among this population. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this pilot study was to (1) describe the EMA study design and protocol, (2) characterize the study population, and (3) assess the feasibility of a random prompt text message-based thrice-daily EMA over 14 days, as a means of prospectively studying sexting, marijuana, and alcohol use among a sample of young adult African American gay and bisexual men ages 21 to 25. METHODS: Participants were recruited through flyers and snowball sampling during spring and summer 2015 at a community-based HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support organization in Washington, DC. Eligible participants were enrolled in a one-time in-person study visit that consisted of informed written consent to participate in the study, a self-administered survey, a semi-structured interview, and enrollment and training in EMA data collection. Commencing the day after the study visit, a random prompt survey was texted to participants on their personal mobile phones 3 times a day over a 14-day data collection period assessing mood, texts sent, texts received, sexts sent, sexts received, marijuana want, marijuana use, and alcohol use. RESULTS: EMA feasibility was tested with 25 self-identified African American gay (n=16) and bisexual (n=9) men (mean age of 23.48 years, SD 1.5). Each random prompt survey had 8 questions with responses including yes/no and Likert scale options. There were 104 total days of EMA observation, and the retention rate was 72% (18 out of 25 participants). Participants responded to the random prompt surveys with a 57.3% compliance rate providing a total of 544 completed surveys out of 949 surveys. The overall mean response time to complete a survey was 6.1 minutes. There were significant positive associations between EMA texts sent and received questions (ρ 0.84, P<.001) as well as sexts sent and received queries (ρ 0.72, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of an EMA protocol has the potential to be a very useful research tool for understanding episodic behaviors such as sexting and substance use in this relatively understudied and underserved population, and has implications for practice. Additional research is needed on how to maximize survey compliance.

Preenlistment and Early Service Risk Factors for Traumatic Brain Injury in the Army and Marine Corps: FY 2002-2010.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the preenlistment and early service risk factors for traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related disability in Army and Marine Corps service members. DESIGN: Matched case-control design. MAIN OUTCOME: TBI disability discharges. SUBJECTS: Army and Marine Corps service members with an enlistment record and disability discharge for TBI were included as cases. Controls were selected from the enlisted population with no disability evaluation record and were matched on fiscal year of enlistment, sex, and service at a ratio of 5:1. RESULTS: Older age at enlistment resulted in a significantly increased risk for TBI disability in the crude and adjusted models (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.91). An enlistment military occupational specialty (MOS) with a combat arms designation resulted in an almost 3-fold increased odds of TBI disability compared with other MOS categories (aOR = 2.75; 95% CI, 2.46-3.09). This remained a significant risk factor for TBI disability in the multivariate model (aOR = 2.74; 95% CI, 2.45-3.08). CONCLUSION: Results from this study help inform the existing body of military TBI research by highlighting the preenlistment demographic and early service risk factors for TBI disability. Further research into the role of age on TBI disability in the military is merited.

A Preliminary Exploration of Former Smokers Enrolled in an Internet Smoking Cessation Program.

BACKGROUND: Internet interventions may have an important role to play in helping self-quitters maintain an initial period of abstinence. Little is known about the characteristics and utilization patterns of former smokers who use Internet cessation programs. OBJECTIVE: The overarching aim of this preliminary study was to establish the feasibility of a subsequent randomized trial of the effectiveness of Internet interventions in preventing relapse. Specifically, this study sought to determine the number of former smokers that register on a smoking cessation website, the characteristics of former smokers and their website utilization patterns, and potential predictors of sustained abstinence. METHODS: Participants were self-identified former smokers who registered on a free smoking cessation website. Recruitment occurred immediately following site registration. Participants completed Web-based baseline and 1-month follow-up assessments. Website utilization metrics were extracted at 1 month. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the full sample. Baseline differences were examined between recent quitters (≤7 days of abstinence at enrollment) and more established quitters (8+ days of abstinence at enrollment) using chi-square tests and t tests. Univariate logistic regression examined demographic, smoking, psychosocial characteristics, and website utilization metrics as predictors of 1-month abstinence. RESULTS: During the 10-month study period, 1141 former smokers were recruited to participate: 494 accepted the invitation, 395 were eligible, 377 provided informed consent, and 221 completed the baseline and fully enrolled (56% of those eligible). At 1 month, 55.7% (123/221) of participants completed the follow-up survey. Mean age was 44.25 years (SD 12.78) and the sample was primarily female (174/221, 78.7%), white (196/221, 88.7%), and had at least some college education (177/221, 80.1%). Slightly more than half of participants (123/221, 55.7%) reported quitting more than a week prior to website registration and 43.9% (97/221) had quit within 7 days of registration. The website features most likely to be used were an interactive Quit Date tool (166/221, 75.1%) and the Community (134/221, 60.6%). Univariate regression models showed that recent quitters, those with higher motivation to remain abstinent, and those who used cessation medication in the past year were more likely to use the Community. Older age, longer duration of abstinence at registration, better health status, and health care provider advice to quit were associated with 1-month abstinence. Website utilization metrics did not predict abstinence, though odds ratios suggested higher utilization was associated with greater odds of abstinence. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study demonstrated the feasibility of recruiting former smokers to a research study and documented the uptake of an Internet cessation intervention among this group of self-quitters. Results also showed higher levels of website utilization and greater likelihood of community use among smokers early in their quit attempt compared to those with a longer period of abstinence at enrollment. Important areas for future research include identifying former smokers who may be more susceptible to relapse and determining which components of an Internet intervention are most helpful to prevent relapse in the early and later stages of a quit attempt.

The Moment Study: protocol for a mixed method observational cohort study of the Alternative Nicotine Delivery Systems (ANDS) initiation process among adult cigarette smokers.

INTRODUCTION: Alternative Nicotine Delivery Systems (ANDS) such as e-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that aerosolize nicotine and other substances to simulate smoking without using tobacco. Little is known about the ANDS initiation process among adult smokers. The aims of this research are threefold to: (1) examine how ANDS use affects cigarette use; (2) examine how the immediate environmental and psychosocial contexts of cigarette and ANDS use vary within-and between-participants in general and by menthol preference and race; and, (3) examine participants' 'lived experience' of the subjective perceptions, meaning, influences and utility of cigarette and ANDS use. METHODS AND ANALYSES: This study's mixed method, 6-week longitudinal design will produce a detailed description of the ANDS initiation process among adult smokers (N=100). Qualitative and quantitative data collection will include 3 weeks of: (1) ecological momentary assessment of patterns of cigarette/ANDS use, satisfaction, mood and craving; (2) geospatial assessment of participants' environment, including indoor and outdoor cigarette/ANDS norms and rules; (3) in-depth interviews about the meaning and utility of cigarette smoking and ANDS use; and, (4) saliva cotinine and exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) biomarkers. A diverse sample will be recruited with an equal number of menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers. As the primary independent variable, we will investigate how ANDS use affects cigarette consumption. We will also examine how smoking-related and ANDS-related rules and norms surrounding product use influence cigarette and ANDS product use, and how the subjective effects of ANDS use affect ANDS perceptions, beliefs and use. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the US National Institutes of Health (1R21DA036472), registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02261363), and approved by the Chesapeake IRB (Pro00008526). Findings will be disseminated to the scientific and lay community through presentations, reports and scientific publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02261363; Pre-results.

Characteristics of U.S. Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities Offering HIV Services: Results From a National Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Substance use disorders are common among persons with HIV/AIDS. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of the provision of four HIV services in a national sample of substance abuse treatment facilities. METHODS: Data were from the 2011 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. RESULTS: Prevalence estimates indicated that 28% of facilities offered HIV testing, 26% early intervention, 58% HIV/AIDS education, and 8% special programs for HIV/AIDS. Facilities offering inpatient substance abuse care were more than six times as likely to offer HIV testing but not more likely to offer any other type of HIV service. Facilities offering methadone treatment were 2.5 times more likely to offer HIV services. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high rates of substance use among persons with HIV, the prevalence of facilities offering HIV services was low in most domains, with different barriers identified in multivariable models. Integrating comprehensive HIV prevention, testing, and support services into programs that address substance abuse is needed.

Early life exposure to cigarette smoke and depressive symptoms among women in midlife.

INTRODUCTION: Active cigarette smoking has consistently been associated with depression, but little is known about the association between other cigarette smoke exposures, particularly in early life, and depression. We investigated whether exposures to maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSP) and childhood secondhand smoke (SHS) are associated with depressive symptoms in midlife. METHODS: Pregnant mothers were enrolled and were provided data on maternal smoking and other parental characteristics. Female offspring were followed through age 7 years and again in midlife (age range = 38-44 years), when they provided data on smoking history, SHS across the life course, and current depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). RESULTS: Participants exposed to MSP had a higher risk for depression (risk ratio [RR] = 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08, 3.09) than those without MSP exposure. Relative to those with no MSP and no childhood SHS exposures, participants with MSP and childhood SHS had more than twice the risk of depressive symptoms (RR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.07, 5.41). Further adjustment for adult factors, particularly current smoking, substantially reduced these associations (e.g., MSP vs. no MSP exposure: RR = 1.36 [95% CI = 0.75, 2.45]). CONCLUSIONS: Early life exposure to cigarette smoke is associated with increased risk for depression in midlife, with the association largely mediated by active smoking. These findings support a role for early life cigarette exposures in shaping smoking and depression risks in later life, and they provide some support for the direction of smoke exposure influence on depression.

Risk factors for disability retirement among active duty Air Force personnel.

OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors for disability retirement in Air Force personnel, as well as the conditions contributing to disability retirement. METHODS: A matched case-control study was conducted. Air Force personnel with accession records who were disability retired between 2002 and 2011 were included as cases. Controls were matched by accession year from the population of accessions not evaluated for disability at a ratio of 2:1. Conditional logistic regression was used to determine the odds of disability retirement. RESULTS: Women and those aged 25 or older were significantly more likely to be disability retired. Deployment was also associated with disability retirement but was significantly protective. Among women, the odds of disability retirement did not vary when stratified by deployment history. Preexisting medical conditions were not associated with disability retirement. Psychiatric conditions were the most common condition type among those who were disability retired in the Air Force. CONCLUSIONS: Additional studies are needed to assess risk factors for psychiatric disability, the most common disability retired condition, as well as to describe the role of occupation and combat exposure in disability retirement from the Air Force.