Association of cigarette and electronic cigarette use patterns with all-cause mortality: A national cohort study of 145,390 US adults.

OBJECTIVE: While e-cigarette use is associated with adverse cardiopulmonary health effects, the mortality risks associated with e-cigarette use alone and combined with smoking remain unexamined. METHODS: Data between 2014 and 2018 were obtained from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an annual cross-sectional survey of US adults. All-cause mortality and date of death were obtained via linkage of the NHIS to the National Death Index through December 31, 2019. A 6-category composite cigarette (never, former, current) and e-cigarette (current, non-current) exposure variable was created. We examined the association of cigarette and e-cigarette use patterns with all-cause mortality using adjusted Cox models. RESULTS: Among 145,390 participants (79,294 women [51.5%]; 60,560 aged 18-44 [47.4%]), 5220 deaths were observed over a median follow-up of 3.5 years (508,545 total person-years). Dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes was associated with higher mortality risk compared with non-current e-cigarette use in combination with never smoking (hazard ratio [HR] 2.44; 95% CI, 1.90-3.13) and had a risk that did not differ from current exclusive smoking (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.83-1.37). Current e-cigarette use in combination with former smoking was associated with a lower mortality risk than current exclusive cigarette smoking (HR 0.64; 95% CI, 0.41-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of e-cigarette use to smoking does not reduce mortality risk compared with exclusive smoking. However, transitioning completely from cigarettes to e-cigarettes may be associated with mortality risk reduction. Further research is needed to verify these findings in larger cohorts and over longer periods of follow-up.

Adolescent Δ8-THC and Marijuana Use in the US.

Importance: Gummies, flavored vaping devices, and other cannabis products containing psychoactive hemp-derived Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are increasingly marketed in the US with claims of being federally legal and comparable to marijuana. National data on prevalence and correlates of Δ8-THC use and comparisons to marijuana use among adolescents in the US are lacking. Objective: To estimate the self-reported prevalence of and sociodemographic and policy factors associated with Δ8-THC and marijuana use among US adolescents in the past 12 months. Design, Setting, and Participants: This nationally representative cross-sectional analysis included a randomly selected subset of 12th-grade students in 27 US states who participated in the Monitoring the Future Study in-school survey during February to June 2023. Exposures: Self-reported sex, race, ethnicity, and parental education; census region; state-level adult-use (ie, recreational) marijuana legalization (yes vs no); and state-level Δ8-THC policies (regulated vs not regulated). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was self-reported Δ8-THC and marijuana use in the past 12 months (any vs no use and number of occasions used). Results: In the sample of 2186 12th-grade students (mean age, 17.7 years; 1054 [48.9% weighted] were female; 232 [11.1%] were Black, 411 [23.5%] were Hispanic, 1113 [46.1%] were White, and 328 [14.2%] were multiracial), prevalence of self-reported use in the past 12 months was 11.4% (95% CI, 8.6%-14.2%) for Δ8-THC and 30.4% (95% CI, 26.5%-34.4%) for marijuana. Of those 295 participants reporting Δ8-THC use, 35.4% used it at least 10 times in the past 12 months. Prevalence of Δ8-THC use was lower in Western vs Southern census regions (5.0% vs 14.3%; risk difference [RD], -9.4% [95% CI, -15.2% to -3.5%]; adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 0.35 [95% CI, 0.16-0.77]), states in which Δ8-THC was regulated vs not regulated (5.7% vs 14.4%; RD, -8.6% [95% CI, -12.9% to -4.4%]; aRR, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.23-0.74]), and states with vs without legal adult-use marijuana (8.0% vs 14.0%; RD, -6.0% [95% CI, -10.8% to -1.2%]; aRR, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.35-0.91]). Use in the past 12 months was lower among Hispanic than White participants for Δ8-THC (7.3% vs 14.4%; RD, -7.2% [95% CI, -12.2% to -2.1%]; aRR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.34-0.87]) and marijuana (24.5% vs 33.0%; RD, -8.5% [95% CI, -14.9% to -2.1%]; aRR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.59-0.94]). Δ8-THC and marijuana use prevalence did not differ by sex or parental education. Conclusions and Relevance: Δ8-THC use prevalence is appreciable among US adolescents and is higher in states without marijuana legalization or existing Δ8-THC regulations. Prioritizing surveillance, policy, and public health efforts addressing adolescent Δ8-THC use may be warranted.

Disposable E-Cigarette Use and Subsequent Use Patterns in Adolescents and Young Adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Disposable electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are widely used by adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Whether using disposable devices is associated with future e-cigarette use patterns is unknown but important for informing e-cigarette regulation. METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study combining data from adolescent (14-17 years) and young adult (21-24 years) cohorts from Southern California surveyed at baseline and approximately 8-month follow-up during 2021 to 2022. The analyses included AYAs who used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days at baseline and had exposure and outcome data (N = 403; adolescent n = 124, young adult n = 279). RESULTS: In the pooled sample of AYAs who used e-cigarettes at baseline (57.2% cis-gender female, 56.2% Hispanic), 278 (69.0%) reported past 30-day disposable e-cigarette use, and 125 (31.0%) used only nondisposable e-cigarettes. Baseline use of disposable (versus only nondisposable) devices was associated with higher odds of continued e-cigarette use (adjusted odds ratio = 1.92; 95% confidence interval = 1.09-3.42) and a greater number of times used e-cigarettes per day at follow-up (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 1.29; 95% confidence interval = 1.02-1.63). In supplemental analyses, disposable e-cigarette use was associated with greater odds of no changes (versus reductions) in e-cigarette use frequency and puffs per episode from baseline to follow-up but was not associated with increases in use frequency and intensity. No differences in e-cigarette use outcomes were found between those with poly-device (disposable and nondisposable) versus only disposable device use. CONCLUSIONS: Use of disposable e-cigarette devices among AYAs may be associated with higher risks for persistent e-cigarette use patterns, which should be considered in tobacco product regulation designed to protect AYAs.

Psychedelic Microdosing among Young Adults from Southern California.

Despite common depictions in the media, there is little scientific evidence on microdosing psychedelic drugs. We assessed awareness, prevalence, and dosing practices of microdosing psychedelic drugs among young adults 18-22 years old from Southern California (2018-2019). We examined whether sociodemographic factors, personality traits, mental health, or other substance use behaviors were correlated with having ever microdosed. Among 2,396 participants, 293 (12%) had heard of microdosing and 74 (3%) ever microdosed. Among those who had heard of microdosing, 79% correctly defined microdosing as taking an amount of a psychedelic much lower than a standard dose, whereas 15% misperceived microdosing as a standard psychedelic dose. Psilocybin was the most common drug ever microdosed (70%), followed by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD, 57%). Among those who ever microdosed, ~18% reported using psychoactive doses far higher than would be generally considered a microdose. White race, male/masculine gender identity, bisexual identity, past 6-month other drug use, greater attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, mindfulness, and sensation-seeking were positively associated with having ever microdosed in multivariable models. Young adult microdosing merits further attention from scientific and public health professionals to help prevent misperceptions and potential adverse consequences as well as explore its potential therapeutic applications.

Sexual and Gender Identity Disparities in Nicotine and Tobacco Use Susceptibility and Prevalence: Disaggregating Emerging Identities Among Adolescents From California, USA.

INTRODUCTION: Prior studies report nicotine/tobacco use disparities for sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth but have insufficiently characterized SGM identity diversity. AIMS AND METHODS: Adolescents (mean age = 15.2) from 11 high schools in Southern California completed surveys in Fall 2021. Ever use of combustible (cigarettes, cigars, hookah) and noncombustible (e-cigarettes, e-hookah, heated tobacco, smokeless/snus, oral nicotine) nicotine/tobacco (among overall sample, n = 3795) and susceptibility to future initiation of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and flavored non-tobacco oral nicotine (among n = 3331 tobacco-naïve youth) were compared across four gender (male/masculine, female/feminine, transgender male/female, non-binary) and seven sexual (heterosexual, bisexual, pansexual, queer, questioning, gay/lesbian, asexual) identities. RESULTS: Non-binary (vs. cisgender male) youth had greater prevalence of ever combustible (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.86, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.76 to 4.66) and non-combustible (PR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.31 to 2.86) nicotine/tobacco use, and susceptibility to future nicotine/tobacco initiation (PR range = 2.32-2.68). Transgender (vs. cisgender male) youth had greater susceptibility to nicotine/tobacco use (PR range = 1.73-1.95), but not greater tobacco use prevalence. There was greater prevalence of non-combustible nicotine/tobacco use (PR range = 1.78-1.97) and susceptibility to nicotine/tobacco initiation (PR range = 1.36-2.18) for all sexual minority (vs. heterosexual) identities, except for asexual. Bisexual (PR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.30 to 3.16) and queer (PR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.31 to 6.27) youth had higher ever combustible tobacco use than heterosexual youth. Questioning (vs. heterosexual) youth were more susceptible to future tobacco initiation (PR range = 1.36-2.05) but did not differ in ever use. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities in nicotine/tobacco use and susceptibility were present with similar effect sizes across most, but not all, SGM identities. Inclusive measurement of SGM identities in research and surveillance may inform more precise tobacco control efforts to reduce disparities. IMPLICATIONS: Among high school students from Southern California with substantial diversity in sexual and gender identities, there was greater prevalence of tobacco use and susceptibility to future tobacco initiation for most, but not all, sexual and gender minority youth, including those with emerging sexual and gender identities such as non-binary, queer and pansexual. Additionally, findings indicate that tobacco control initiatives targeting youth who are questioning their sexual identities may be particularly important for preventing tobacco use initiation. This study reinforces the importance of measuring diversity within the LGBTQ + community for tobacco use research, and highlights how inclusive measurement can inform more precise tobacco control interventions.

Trajectories of body mass index and combustible and electronic cigarette use across adolescence: Findings from the PATH study.

PURPOSE: Associations between empirically-generated body mass index (BMI) trajectories and risk of current use of combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes across adolescence were examined using longitudinal data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study. METHODS: The PATH study is an ongoing annual longitudinal population-based study of adolescents. We utilized Waves 1-4 conducted from 2013 to 2017. Adolescents completed self-reported surveys of their height, weight, and current tobacco use at Waves 1-4 and their tobacco weight control beliefs at Waves 1-2. RESULTS: Using latent growth mixture modeling, six trajectories of BMI were identified. The largest group ("normal weight increasing;" n = 4,858; 86.6 %), which was used as the comparator in subsequent analyses, consisted of adolescents ages 12-17 who were normal weight at Wave 1 with a significant increase in BMI across Waves 2--4. The "overweight early increasing," "overweight late increasing," and "obesity stable" classes had greater likelihood of current combustible cigarette use during the study compared to the "normal weight increasing class." The "overweight early increasing," "overweight late increasing," and "overweight increasing then decreasing" classes showed elevated risk for e-cigarette use during the study. Compared to those in the "normal weight increasing" class, those in the "overweight increasing then decreasing" and "obesity stable" classes had greater weight control beliefs at Wave 1 and those in the "obesity stable" class had greater weight control beliefs at Wave 2. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the importance of weight trajectories and weight control beliefs by tobacco product use across adolescence and the need for mechanistic and intervention research.

Longitudinal transitions between combustible, non-combustible, and poly-cannabis product use from adolescence to young adulthood and intersections with nicotine use.

Understanding transitions across cannabis product use and poly use and how they intersect with nicotine use in young people can inform etiology and prevention. This study examined transitions across combustible and non-combustible form of cannabis use and poly-use from adolescence to young adulthood and the role of nicotine use in transitions. In a longitudinal cohort from Southern California (n=3,298; baseline mean[SD] age=16.1[0.4] years) with nine semi-annual survey waves (2015-2021), Markov multistate transition modeling estimated short (two-wave) and long-term (nine-wave) transition probabilities across five cannabis states: never use of any product, prior use with no past 6-month (P6M) use of any product, and P6M exclusive non-combustible, P6M exclusive combustible, and P6M poly product (non-combustible+combustible) use. Sizable transition probabilities from prior and exclusive P6M non-combustible or combustible cannabis use to P6M poly cannabis product use were observed in short (10.7%-38.9%) and long-term (43.4%-43.8%) analyses. P6M nicotine use increased risk of transitioning from never and prior use to exclusive P6M non-combustible and combustible cannabis use. Cannabis use in any form, even temporary use, during mid-adolescence may often be followed by poly cannabis product use. Nicotine use may amplify probability of future cannabis use onset or recurrence.

The interaction of e-cigarette use and mental health symptoms on risk of cigarette smoking initiation among young adults in the United States.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is unknown whether young adults who vape nicotine and have poor mental health have greater risk of smoking initiation than expected based on individual risks of vaping and mental health alone. This study aimed to estimate the joint association of vaping and mental health symptoms with smoking initiation among young adults, and test for additive interaction between vaping and mental health in smoking initiation risk. DESIGN: Using five waves of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (wave 1, 2013-2014; wave 2, 2014-2015; wave 3, 2015-2016; wave 4, 2016-2018; wave 5, 2018-2019), we estimated risk differences (RD) for the association of time-varying and time-lagged vaping and internalizing (e.g., anxiety, depressive) and externalizing (e.g., inattention/hyperactivity) mental health symptoms with cigarette smoking initiation at follow-up, over four 1-year intervals. We calculated interaction contrasts (IC) to estimate the excess risk of smoking initiation attributable to the interaction of vaping and mental health symptoms. SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 6908 cigarette-naïve individuals aged 18-24 years. MEASUREMENTS: Exposures included current (past-30 day) vaping and internalizing and externalizing mental health symptoms (high vs moderate/low symptoms). The outcome was smoking initiation (ever cigarette use) after 1 year. FINDINGS: The per-interval risk of smoking initiation was 7.6% (1039 cases/13 712 person-intervals). Compared with noncurrent vaping and moderate/low mental health symptoms, adjusted RDs for current vaping and high mental health symptoms were 17.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.2% to 27.3%) for internalizing and 18.7% (95%CI: 8.1% to 29.2%) for externalizing symptoms. The excess risk attributed to interaction of current vaping and high externalizing symptoms was IC = 11.3% (95%CI: 1.3% to 21.2%; P = 0.018), with inconclusive findings for internalizing symptoms (IC = 7.7% [95%CI: -2.2% to 17.7%; P = 0.097]). CONCLUSIONS: There is possible, but inconclusive, superadditivity between vaping and mental health in risk of smoking initiation among young adults in the United States.

Effects of dual use of e-cigarette and cannabis during adolescence on cigarette use in young adulthood.

INTRODUCTION: E-cigarette and cannabis use by adolescents are risk factors for smoking initiation. We hypothesised that increasingly common dual use of e-cigarette and cannabis in adolescence leads to more frequent cigarette smoking in young adulthood. METHODS: Data are from a prospective cohort study in Southern California, where 1164 participants who ever used nicotine products in their lifetime completed surveys in 12th grade (T1:2016), and at 24-month (T2) and 42-month (T3) follow-ups. Past 30-day use (number of days: range=0-30) of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and cannabis, and nicotine dependence, were assessed in each survey. Nicotine dependence for cigarettes and e-cigarettes was assessed using original and modified (for e-cigarette) Hooked on Nicotine Checklists (number of dependent products: range=0-2). Path analysis examined the mediation process via nicotine dependence linking baseline e-cigarette and cannabis use to subsequent increased cigarette use. RESULTS: Baseline exclusive use of e-cigarettes (baseline prevalence, 2.5%) was associated with 2.61-fold increase in frequency of smoking days at T3 (95% CI 1.04 to 13.1), exclusive cannabis use (26.0%) with 2.58-fold increase (95% CI 1.43 to 4.98), and dual use (7.4%) with 5.84-fold increase (95% CI 3.16 to 12.81), compared with baseline non-users. Nicotine dependence at T2 mediated 10.5% (95% CI 6.3 to 14.7) and 23.2% (95% CI 9.6 to 36.3) of the association of cannabis and dual use, respectively, with increased smoking at T3. DISCUSSION: Adolescent e-cigarette and cannabis use was associated with more frequent smoking during young adulthood, with larger effects of dual use. Associations were partially mediated through nicotine dependence. Dual use of cannabis and e-cigarettes may contribute to the development of nicotine dependence and increased use of combustible cigarettes.

Sociodemographic Differences in E-Cigarette Uptake and Perceptions of Harm.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate socioeconomic and racial/ethnic differences in e-cigarette uptake and harm perceptions about e-cigarettes among adults who smoke cigarettes in the U.S. METHODS: Five waves of the U.S. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (2013-2019) were used to assess transitions from exclusive cigarette smoking to (1) exclusive e-cigarette use, (2) dual use, and (3) nonuse of either product (N=7,172). Analyses (conducted in 2022) estimated differences in transitions and e-cigarette harm perceptions by race/ethnicity, income, and education. RESULTS: Hispanic (OR=0.32; 95% CI=0.18, 0.54) and Black (OR=0.38; 95% CI=0.22, 0.65) adults were less likely than White adults to transition from exclusive cigarette to exclusive e-cigarette use after 1 year. Adults with a bachelor's degree (versus those with less than high school) (OR=2.57; 95% CI=1.49, 4.45) and adults making ≥$100,000/year (versus those making <$10,000) (OR=3.61; 95% CI=2.10, 6.22) were more likely to transition from exclusive cigarette to exclusive e-cigarette use. Hispanic and Black adults and those with lower income and education were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as equally or more harmful than cigarettes, which in turn was associated with lower odds of transitioning from exclusive cigarette smoking to exclusive e-cigarette use (OR=0.62; 95% CI=0.47, 0.81). CONCLUSIONS: Adults who were Hispanic, were Black, and/or had lower SES were less likely to use e-cigarettes to quit cigarettes. Findings provide preliminary evidence that differences in harm perceptions may contribute to disparities in e-cigarette transitions.

Racial, Ethnic, and Education Differences in Age of Smoking Initiation Among Young Adults in the United States, 2002 to 2019.

This cross-sectional study examines differences by race and ethnicity and education in smoking prevalence and age of smoking initiation among young adults in the US between 2002 and 2019.

Young adults' beliefs about modern oral nicotine products: Implications for uptake in nonvapers, dual use with e-cigarettes, and use to reduce/quit vaping.

Modern oral nicotine products (ONPs; nontherapeutic nicotine pouches, gums, lozenges, and gummies) may be perceived in ways that could promote uptake in nonvapers, dual use with e-cigarettes, or use to quit vaping. In this cross-sectional digital remote survey of 1,460 respondents aged 21-24 from Southern California, we examined beliefs about ONPs among past-30-day e-cigarette nonusers, users unmotivated to quit vaping, and users motivated to quit vaping. Positive beliefs about ONPs were reported by 31.8% of the overall sample and higher in past-30-day e-cigarette users (with or without quit motivation) than nonusers. Perceiving ONPs to be easy to conceal, convenient, and able to be used where vaping/smoking is not allowed were the most common types of beliefs reported. Among e-cigarette users with quit motivation (n = 142), interest in using ONPs to quit/reduce vaping (44.4%) was higher than interest in using medicinal nicotine gum/lozenges (23.4%), nicotine patch (17.6%), or prescription medications (16.6%). Interest in using ONPs to reduce/quit vaping (vs. no interest) was greater among participants who reported vaping ≥ 20 (vs. < 10) days in the past month, vaping ≥ 10 (vs. < 10) times per day, low/moderate (vs. high) quit vaping self-efficacy, and low/moderate (vs. high) desire to quit vaping. These findings suggest that: (a) appreciable subsets of the young adult population may hold positive beliefs about ONPs that could promote ONP uptake, particularly e-cigarette users and (b) some young adult e-cigarette users may be interested in using ONPs to reduce/quit vaping, particularly frequent vapers with relatively lower self-efficacy and desire to quit vaping. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Prevalence of and disparities in adolescents' susceptibility to novel oral nicotine products marketed as "tobacco-free".

Non-therapeutic, novel oral nicotine products are convenient, discreet to use, and flavored, with increasing sales in the United States. It is unclear whether these products appeal predominantly to adolescents already susceptible to inhalable nicotine products, or whether they attract adolescents who would not otherwise use nicotine. This study examined prevalence and correlates of susceptibility to inhalable and oral nicotine product use among adolescents. Ninth- and tenth-grade students from Southern California who had never used any nicotine product (N = 3129) completed an online survey in Fall 2021 assessing susceptibility to inhalable (i.e., cigarettes, e-cigarettes) and oral (e.g., pouches, gum, gummies) nicotine products. Multinomial logistic regression analyses estimated associations of demographic characteristics with odds of susceptibility to oral, inhalable, or both products. Susceptibility was highest for e-cigarettes (19.7%), followed by cigarettes (15.0%) and nicotine gum, lozenges, tablets and/or gummies (15.0%), and nicotine pouches (8.7%). Dual susceptibility to oral and inhalable products (vs. neither product type) was higher in cisgender female and non-cisgender (vs. cisgender male) adolescents (odds ratios [ORs] = 1.36-2.02; ps < 0.05). Hispanic adolescents (vs. Asian) were more susceptible to both products (OR = 1.47; p < .05). Lower-socioeconomic status (SES) and sexual minority adolescents were more susceptible to oral (ORs = 1.76-1.87; ps < 0.05) and both products (ORs = 1.32-1.88; ps < 0.05), compared to higher-SES and heterosexual adolescents. Adolescents in Southern California may be more susceptible to e-cigarettes than other nicotine/tobacco products. However, appreciable numbers may be susceptible to oral nicotine products, including some youth who might not otherwise use nicotine and youth from populations historically impacted by tobacco-related health disparities.

Willingness to Use Commercial Nicotine Gums, Lozenges, and Gummies Among Nontobacco Using Adolescents in Southern California.

PURPOSE: New oral nicotine products (ONPs), often advertised as "tobacco-free" (i.e., pouches, gum, lozenges, gummies), come in nontobacco flavors appealing to adolescents. It is unknown how adolescent willingness to use ONPs differs by product type and flavor, and whether sociodemographic disparities exist. METHODS: Adolescent never tobacco product users (n = 1, 289) in ninth or 10th grade from 11 high schools in Southern California were surveyed in fall 2021 about ever and past 6-month use of ONPs and sociodemographic characteristics. Adolescents were randomized to view five different ONPs in either fruit or mint flavor, and asked to rate their willingness to use each product. Multivariable logistic random effect-repeated measures regression examined associations of product type, flavor, and sociodemographic characteristics with any willingness to use ONPs. RESULTS: Compared to traditional smokeless tobacco (willingness = 17.8%), adolescents reported greater willingness to use ONPs (gum, 28.2%; pouches, 21.1%; lozenge, 22.4%; gummies, 24.1%); adjusted odd ratios [aORs] 1.25-1.84; p-values<.001). Mint flavor (23.3%) compared to fruit flavor (21.4%), significantly increased odds of willingness to use across all ONPs (aOR [95%CI] = 1.15 [1.05, 1.26], p = .004). Younger adolescents (ninth, 24.2% vs. 10th grade, 21.4%) and LGBTQ+ (34.2%) versus heterosexual (19.7%) and cisgender (18.8%) adolescents were more willing to use these products. DISCUSSION: Adolescents reported greater willingness to use new ONPs compared to traditional smokeless tobacco. Adolescents who were younger (vs. older adolescents) or identified as LGBTQ+ (vs. heterosexual and cisgender) were more willing to use new ONPs. Efforts to monitor adolescents' willingness to use and actual use of these products are warranted.

Cigarette‒E-cigarette Transitions and Respiratory Symptom Development.

INTRODUCTION: E-cigarette use is associated with pulmonary inflammation, functional respiratory changes, and chronic lung disease. Most population-level E-cigarette research has utilized point-in-time measures of E-cigarette exposures, which may not generalize to adults who transition between cigarettes and E-cigarettes. METHODS: Data obtained from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study were collected from 2013 to 2019 and analyzed in 2022. Three observations were created per respondent, with exposure intervals assessed over Waves 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4. Each wave of the exposure interval was classified as nonuse, exclusive E-cigarette use, exclusive smoking, or dual use, producing 16 possible cigarette‒E-cigarette transitions. The association between transitions and both dry nighttime cough and wheeze symptom development during follow-up were assessed using mixed-effects Poisson models. RESULTS: Among 33,231 observations from 13,528 unique participants, transitioning from nonuse to exclusive E-cigarette use was associated with 1.62 times higher incidence rate of wheeze (incident rate ratio=1.62; 95% CI=1.12, 2.34) than persistent nonuse. There was no change in reported dry nighttime cough (incident rate ratio=0.84; 95% CI=0.52, 1.35) or wheeze (incident rate ratio=0.87; 95% CI=0.52, 1.46) in individuals who switched from cigarettes to E-cigarettes, whereas transitioning from dual use to E-cigarette use was associated with large reductions in both symptoms (incident rate ratio=0.58; 95% CI=0.39, 0.87 and incident rate ratio=0.36; 95% CI=0.20, 0.63, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: E-cigarette initiation among nonusers is associated with increased respiratory morbidity. Further research should assess the risks and benefits of E-cigarette‒assisted cigarette cessation given the reduction in symptom development rates among dual use to E-cigarette switchers.

Underage E-Cigarette Purchasing and Vaping Progression Among Young Adults.

PURPOSE: Despite laws prohibiting sale of e-cigarettes to individuals aged less than 21 years, many underage young adults purchase e-cigarettes from retail stores, which may increase likelihood of continued use due to a greater access to vaping products and exposure to point-of-sale marketing. METHODS: Data are from a prospective cohort of young adults aged 18-20 years in Los Angeles who had ever used e-cigarettes at baseline (N = 1,029). We evaluated the association of underage e-cigarette purchasing behavior (owned and purchased vs. owned but never purchased vs. never owned an e-cigarette) with subsequent vaping frequency, intensity, and dependence symptoms one year later, adjusting for vaping behaviors prior to baseline; additional models evaluated whether associations differed by purchase location or product type. RESULTS: At baseline, 332 (32%) had purchased e-cigarettes while underage, 227 (22%) owned but never purchased e-cigarettes themselves, and 470 (46%) never owned an e-cigarette. Compared to never owning e-cigarettes, those who had purchased their own e-cigarettes vaped more days in the past month (rate ratio [RR] = 2.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.15-4.09), had more vaping episodes per day (RR: 2.58; 95% CI: 2.12-3.14), vaped more puffs per vaping episode (RR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.61-2.23), and had greater odds of dependence (odds ratio: 3.68; 95% CI: 2.51-5.40); elevated estimates were also observed for those who owned but never purchased e-cigarettes (vs. never owned). Vaping dependence was greatest among participants who purchased JUULs or other pod-mods. DISCUSSION: Participants who purchased e-cigarettes underage subsequently vaped more intensely and had greater vaping dependence. Regulations that reduce underage retail access to e-cigarettes may help prevent vaping progression among those most at risk of dependence.

Closing the Loophole on Hemp-Derived Cannabis Products: A Public Health Priority.

This Viewpoint discusses a federal policy loophole that allows psychotropic cannabis products to be commercially marketed and sold across the US, even in states where recreational cannabis is not legal.

Changes in sexual identity and substance use during young adulthood.

BACKGROUND: Sexual identity is dynamic, and changes in identity (e.g., from heterosexual to lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer [LGBQ+]) are common during young adulthood. It is not well-understood how sexual identity changes may be associated with substance use risk. METHODS: Two waves of data (baseline: October, 2018-October, 2019; follow-up: May-October, 2020) were used from a prospective cohort of young adults (N = 1896; mean age=21.2). Frequency of past 30-day use and new initiation of five substance use outcomes (alcohol, any tobacco, e-cigarettes, cannabis, illicit drugs) were compared across four groups: consistently heterosexual (N = 1567), consistently LGBQ+ (N = 244), heterosexual to LGBQ+ (N = 65), and LGBQ+ to heterosexual (N = 20). RESULTS: Consistently LGBQ+ (vs. consistently heterosexual) participants reported greater frequency of past 30-day use of alcohol (aOR=1.34, 95% CI=1.04-1.72), any tobacco products (aOR=1.88, CI=1.34-2.63), e-cigarettes (aOR=1.49, CI=1.01-2.19), cannabis (aOR=1.36, CI=1.01-1.84), and illicit drugs (aOR=2.84, CI=1.77-4.56). Heterosexual to LGBQ+ (vs. consistently heterosexual) participants reported greater frequency of past 30-day use of any tobacco products (aOR=1.87, CI=1.06-3.33) and illicit drugs (aOR=2.48, CI=1.10-5.62), and had greater risk of initiating alcohol (aRR=1.82, CI=1.02-3.25) and cannabis use (aRR=2.90, CI=1.81-4.64). LGBQ+ to heterosexual (vs. consistently LGBQ+) participants reported lower frequency of past 30-day use of alcohol (aOR=0.35, CI=0.14-0.88) and any tobacco products (aOR=0.15, CI=0.03-0.80). CONCLUSIONS: Identifying as LGBQ+ was associated with increased risk for frequent substance use, and newly adopting an LGBQ+ identity was associated with increased risk for new substance use initiation. Prevention and treatment interventions may need to tailor messaging to young people who have newly adopted an LGBQ+ identity.

Differences in intention to use flavored oral nicotine products among young adult e-cigarette users and non-users.

New oral nicotine products (ONPs; nicotine pouches, gums, lozenges, and gummies), which are regulated as nonmedicinal tobacco products in the U.S., have flavors and other characteristics that previously attracted young adults to e-cigarettes. Whether young adults' interest in ONPs differs by e-cigarette use status and quit-vaping motivation is unknown but important for understanding the possible health impact of ONPs. It is particularly important to study if nonmedicinal ONPs attract e-cigarette users interested in quitting vaping, given that nicotine replacement (NRT) therapy uptake in young adults is low. In this study, ONP non-users (ages: 20-24) from California viewed digital images of 5 flavored ONPs (4 nonmedicinal and one NRT gum product) and reported intention to use each ONP (0-100 score). Main and interactive effects of Group (past-6-month e-cigarette non-users [n = 1,1388], e-cigarette users unmotivated to quit vaping [n = 168], and e-cigarette users motivated to quit vaping [n = 99]) and ONP type (nonmedicinal gum, nonmedicinal lozenge, gummy, pouch, and NRT gum) on use intention were tested. For each nonmedicinal ONP, use intention was higher in both e-cigarette user groups than non-users (ds = 0.47-0.59; Ps < 0.001), but did not differ between e-cigarette users with and without quit-vaping motivation (Ps ≥ 0.31). A Group × ONP type interaction was found, whereby higher use intention for e-cigarette users with vs without quit motivation was present for only gum NRT (Cohens d = 0.17; P =.01). Among young adults, e-cigarette users might be more inclined than e-cigarette non-users to try nonmedicinal ONPs regardless of quit-vaping motivation.

Prospective association between e-cigarette use frequency patterns and cigarette smoking abstinence among adult cigarette smokers in the United States.

AIMS: To estimate the association of longitudinal patterns of e-cigarette use with cigarette smoking abstinence, after accounting for time-dependent confounding and selection bias. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of longitudinal national cohort data. Using marginal structural models and four waves of the population assessment of tobacco and health (wave 1, 2013-14; wave 2, 2014-15; wave 3, 2015-16; wave 4, 2016-18), we estimated the association of vaping frequency across waves 2 and 3 with 12-month sustained cigarette smoking abstinence at wave 4, adjusting for time-dependent confounders at waves 1 and 2 and selection bias due to drop-out with inverse probability of treatment and censoring weights. SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS/CASES: A total of 5699 adults (18+ years) who smoked cigarettes and did not vape at wave 1. MEASUREMENTS: The exposure was vaping frequency at waves 2 and 3 (non-use, non-daily use, daily use), representing nine possible combinations of vaping frequency across two waves. Non-use at both waves was the exposure reference group. The primary outcome was sustained 12-month cigarette smoking abstinence at wave 4. FINDINGS: Among 5699 adults who smoked cigarettes at wave 1, a total of 560 (9.8%) reported smoking abstinence at wave 4. Compared with nonuse at both waves, daily vaping at both waves [risk ratio (RR) = 3.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.59-5.64] and non-use at wave 2 followed by daily vaping at wave 3 (RR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.66-3.77) were positively associated with smoking abstinence; non-daily vaping at both waves was inversely associated with smoking abstinence (RR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.11-0.75). Results persisted after accounting for misclassification of e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking abstinence and after restricting to participants with plans to quit smoking. CONCLUSIONS: In a US cohort of adult smokers, longitudinal patterns of vaping frequency appear to predict smoking abstinence, even after accounting for several sources of systematic error. Consistent daily vaping is associated with increased chances of cigarette smoking abstinence, while consistent non-daily vaping is associated with decreased chances of smoking abstinence.