Restricting Tobacco Retail Outlets Around Middle and High Schools as a Way to Reduce Tobacco Marketing Disparities: A Simulation Study.

INTRODUCTION: Communities with more people of color and economically disadvantaged residents are disproportionately exposed to tobacco marketing from tobacco companies. This study examined if banning tobacco retail outlets (TROs) within 1000 ft of schools would reduce these marketing disparities through a greater reduction in the amount of tobacco advertising around schools in these communities. METHODS: Data from objectively audited advertisement data from 106 convenience stores and gas stations around 42 middle and high schools located in the four major metropolitan areas of Texas were linked with schools' enrollment data. ArcGIS (Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographic Information System) was used to simulate a 1000-ft ban of tobacco sales around the schools. Independent sample T-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to test mean differences where appropriate. RESULTS: Schools with a higher enrollment of Hispanic/Latino (mean = 171.6, SD = 96.9) and economically disadvantaged students (mean = 168.9, SD = 102.3) were surrounded with significantly greater advertising at TROs than schools with lower enrollment of these groups (mean = 82.8, SD = 49.1 and mean = 89.2, SD = 50.6, respectively). A simulated 1000 ft ban of TROs around schools led to greater advertising reduction around schools with a higher enrollment of Hispanic/Latino students (13.3%-29.4% reductions) in comparison to schools with lower Hispanic/Latino student enrollment. However, the more economically disadvantaged schools had a smaller reduction in the number of advertisements (5.9%-21.9% reductions) in comparison to schools with less economically disadvantaged students. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a ban of tobacco sales at TROs within 1000 ft of schools is one policy approach to reduce youth exposure to tobacco marketing, particularly among students of color. STUDY IMPLICATION: Tobacco retail outlets (TROs) around schools with a higher enrollment of Hispanic/Latino and economically disadvantaged students had significantly more tobacco advertisements in comparison to schools with lower enrollment of these student groups. A simulated ban of TROs within 1000 ft of schools led to greater advertising reduction around schools with a higher enrollment of Hispanic/Latino students. For schools with more economically disadvantaged students, the ban led to a smaller reduction in advertisements in comparison to schools with less economically disadvantaged students. This proposed place-based strategy could be a successful means to reduce tobacco advertising and marketing disparity among communities of color.

Longitudinal trajectories of E-cigarette use among adolescents: A 5-year, multiple cohort study of vaping with and without marijuana.

E-cigarette use harms adolescent health, yet it continues to escalate rapidly among teens nationwide. This longitudinal study sought to identify and differentiate between developmental trajectories of past 30-day e-cigarette use with and without marijuana (i.e., liquid THC) across adolescence (11-19 years old). Three population-based cohorts of adolescents (n = 3907; N = 461,069) living in major metropolitan areas of Texas (Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Austin) completed up to 9 Waves of an e-cigarette use survey, from 2014 to 2019. Growth curve models (GCMs) were used to identify average trajectories of past 30-day e-cigarette use, by cohort. Growth mixture models (GMMs) were used to investigate developmental patterns in these trajectories, by cohort. Sociodemographic differences in trajectories were also investigated. Stable trajectories of e-cigarette use with and without marijuana were identified, from 11 through 19 years of age. Trajectories varied by age of onset; frequency and escalation in use; and substance used. With one exception, all trajectories of e-cigarette use escalated with age. Moreover, age of onset and progression in use were positively related. The most problematic trajectories, corresponding to more frequent use, were observed among the younger cohorts compared to the oldest. Primary prevention is critical. Interventions to prevent the onset and progression in e-cigarette use among teens must begin early (e.g., in middle school) and be sustained throughout adolescence.

Language Gap in Reach of "The Real Cost": Examination of a Federal Mass Media Campaign From 2017 to 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 25% of youth in the United States speak a language other than English at home. These youth may have less exposure to English-speaking media, including public smoking prevention initiatives such as the FDA's "The Real Cost" campaign. Research is needed to explore potential gaps in the reach of "The Real Cost" campaign among bilingual youth. AIMS AND METHODS: Data were pooled from the 2017-2019 National Youth Tobacco Surveys. Participants were n = 12 803 middle and high school students who were either: (1) susceptible never smokers; or (2) ever smokers that had smoked less than 100 cigarettes; these criteria reflect the FDA's definition of "target population" for "The Real Cost" campaign. Multiple, logistic regression analyses examined the relationship between speaking a language other than English at home (ie, bilingual) and self-reported exposure to "The Real Cost" campaign among both samples. Analyses controlled for sex, race/ethnicity, grade level, tobacco marketing exposure, and current tobacco use. RESULTS: The majority (61.7%) of youth who met "target population" criteria self-reported exposure to "The Real Cost" from 2017 to 2019. Regression analyses found that youth who reported speaking a language other than English at home were significantly less likely to self-report exposure to "The Real Cost" campaign (adjusted odds ratio: 0.85; p < .001), adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Bilingual youth were significantly less likely to report exposure to "The Real Cost" campaign. Findings suggest the need to develop methods of increasing reach among bilingual youth, given the high smoking prevalence among these youth. IMPLICATIONS: This study highlights a social and cultural gap in the reach of the FDA's "The Real Cost" campaign. Agencies such as FDA should consider enhancing existing mass media campaigns to reach diverse communities, including the nearly 25% of youth who speak a language other than English.

A Longitudinal Examination of Behavioral Transitions among Young Adult Menthol and Non-Menthol Cigarette Smokers Using a Three-State Markov Model.

INTRODUCTION: Young adult cigarette smoking behaviors are complex and dynamic. Emerging research suggests a growing rate of switching from non-menthol to menthol cigarettes. Transitions across cigarette smoking states are not well understood. This research longitudinally explores transitions in cigarette smoking behaviors among 18-29 year olds. METHODS: We applied a Markov model to data collected biannually for 1542 initially 18-29 year old young adults (mean age: 20.9 years; SD = 2.6) in Texas, who provided 7021 total observations from Fall 2014 to Spring 2017. All participants were past 30 day menthol or non-menthol cigarette smokers at first observation. We examined transitions across three states of cigarette smoking (menthol, non-menthol, and nonsmoking) and compared predictors of each transition, during young adulthood. RESULTS: Descriptively, 22.2% of menthol and 14.3% of non-menthol smokers switched products while 25.6% of menthol and 26.0% of non-menthol smokers quit smoking. Among quitters, 20.0% relapsed via menthol and 28.2% relapsed via non-menthol cigarettes. Results from Markov model indicated that Hispanic/Latinos (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 3.69) and Asians (HR: 2.85) were significantly more likely to switch from non-menthol to menthol cigarettes, relative to non-Hispanic whites. Among recent quitters, the use of non-cigarette products was associated with increased risk of relapse via menthol (HR: 1.54) and non-menthol (HR: 1.85) cigarettes. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of young adult cigarette smokers transitioned across cigarette smoking states over the course of 2.5 years. Other tobacco use and nicotine dependence were impediments to becoming and remaining a non-smoker. Hispanic/Latinos and Asians, relative to non-Hispanic whites, had greater odds of transitioning from non-menthol smoking to both non-smoking and to menthol smoking. Findings suggest racial/ethnic differences in cigarette smoking transitions during young adulthood. IMPLICATIONS: This paper examined multidirectional transitions across cigarette smoking, including switching between menthol and non-menthol cigarettes, among young adults. Results indicate that Hispanic/Latino and Asian young adults are at increased risk of transition to menthol cigarette smoking compared with non-Hispanic white young adults. Findings highlight need for further study of Hispanic/Latino and Asian young adult smoking behaviors.

The Future of Substance Abuse Now: Relationships among Adolescent Use of Vaping Devices, Marijuana, and Synthetic Cannabinoids.

Background: Substances that can be vaped include nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and a range of synthetic drugs called new psychoactive substances (NPS). Due to the rising popularity of vaping among adolescents, it is crucial to understand the relationships between vaping and illicit drug use. Objectives: This paper examined the prevalence and trends of using vaping devices, marijuana vaping, marijuana products, synthetic cannabinoids and mist contents among youth. Methods: The study utilized 5 sets of public cross-sectional national data from the "Monitoring the Future" surveys during 2014-2018. It employed logistic regression to analyze the data. Results: There was an increase from 10.5% in 2017 to 20.8% in 2018 for the past 30-day use of vaping devices among 12th graders. Furthermore, there was an increase from 21.6% in 2017 to 34.5% in 2018 for the past 12-month use of marijuana via vaping device among 12th-grade marijuana users. Additionally, there were significant associations between vaping device use and marijuana vaping, between vaping device use and marijuana use, between vaping device use and synthetic cannabinoids use, and between marijuana use and synthetic cannabinoids use from 2016 to 2018. Conclusions: Vaping emerged as another major route of marijuana administration among youth. Adolescent marijuana users had higher odds of using synthetic cannabinoids. This finding highlighted the importance of understanding what adolescent substance consumption pattern would be where marijuana was legalized. It also supported the hypothesis that vaping devices use correlates with, or is associated with, marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids use.

Predictors of JUUL, other electronic nicotine delivery systems, and combustible tobacco initiation among Texas youth.

The objectives of this study were to 1) examine longitudinal predictors of JUUL and other tobacco product initiation, 2) compare these predictors across product type, and 3) describe cross-sectional characteristics of JUUL initiators, among a cohort of Texas adolescents. Analyses were also stratified to examine whether predictors of initiation differed by susceptibility to tobacco use at baseline. This study utilized data from Waves 7 and 8 (Fall 2017 and Spring 2018) of the Texas Adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance System (n = 2272). Chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to examine differences in predictors of initiation. Among those who initiated at Wave 8 (n=107), 40.2% initiated JUUL, 43.9% initiated other ENDS, and 15.9% initiated other combustible tobacco. For the full sample, ever marijuana use predicted the initiation of all tobacco products (Relative Risk Ratios "RRRs" from 2.31-4.13) as compared to non-users. For non-susceptible youth, ever marijuana use significantly predicted the initiation of JUUL (RRR = 10.08, 95% CI = 2.11-48.17) and other ENDS use (RRR = 12.07, 95% CI = 2.97-49.04). Peer tobacco use predicted the initiation of JUUL (RRR = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.38-6.81) and other ENDS use (RRR = 5.36, 95% CI = 2.11-13.64) for the full sample, as well as those who were susceptible to tobacco use. For non-susceptible youth, peer tobacco use predicted the initiation of combustible tobacco use (RRR = 16.56, 95% CI = 1.56-175.84). Prominent reasons for JUUL use included curiosity, friend use, and less harmful that cigarettes. Results highlight the role of marijuana in the initiation of all tobacco products, even among low-risk youth; other predictors varied between product type. Interventions should address specific predictors to prevent youth from transitioning to tobacco use.

Research on Youth and Young Adult Tobacco Use, 2013-2018, From the Food and Drug Administration-National Institutes of Health Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science.

The Tobacco Regulatory Science Program is a collaborative research effort between the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In 2013, the NIH funded 14 Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science (TCORS), which serve as partners in establishing research, training, and professional development programs to guide FDA. Each of the fourteen TCORS, and two other NIH-funded research programs, the Center for the Evaluation of Nicotine in Cigarettes (CENIC) and the Consortium on Methods Evaluating Tobacco (COMET), pursued specific research themes relevant to FDA's priorities. A key mandate for FDA is to reduce tobacco use among young people. This article is a review of the peer-reviewed research, including published and in-press manuscripts, from the TCORS, CENIC, and COMET, which provides specific data or other findings on youth (ages 10-18 years) and/or young adults (ages 18-34 years), from 2013 to 2018. Citations of all TCORS, CENIC, and COMET articles from September 2013 to December 2017 were collected by the TCORS coordinating center, the Center for Evaluation and Coordination of Training and Research. Additional citations up to April 30, 2018 were requested from the principal investigators. A scoring rubric was developed and implemented to assess study type, primary theme, and FDA priority area addressed by each article. The major subareas and findings from each priority area are presented. There were 766 articles in total, with 258 (34%) focusing on youth and/or young adults. Findings relevant to FDA from this review concern impact analysis, toxicity, health effects, addiction, marketing influences, communications, and behavior. IMPLICATIONS: The Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science, CENIC, and COMET have had a high output of scientific articles since 2013. These Centers are unique in that the FDA supports science specifically to guide future regulatory actions. The 258 articles that have focused on youth and/or young adults are providing data for regulatory actions by the FDA related to the key priority areas such as the addictiveness of non-cigarette products, the effects of exposure to electronic cigarette marketing on initiation and cessation, and the impact of flavored products on youth and young adult tobacco use. Future regulations to reduce tobacco use will be guided by the cumulative evidence. These Centers are one innovative mechanism to promote important outcomes to advance tobacco regulatory science.

Trajectories of Tobacco and Nicotine Use Across Young Adulthood, Texas, 2014-2017.

OBJECTIVES: To examine intraindividual change in polytobacco and individual tobacco and nicotine product use across young adulthood. METHOD: Participants were 2711 students from 24 Texas colleges participating in a 6-wave online study, with 6 months between each wave. Participants were aged 18 to 25 years at baseline in fall 2014 or spring 2015 and aged 20 to 28 years at wave 6. We used growth curve modeling for an accelerated longitudinal design to examine change from ages 18 to 28 years in polytobacco use (use of 2 or more products) and in use of 5 individual products (cigarettes, smokeless tobacco or snus, large cigars, cigarillos, or little cigars, hookah, and electronic nicotine delivery systems [ENDS]). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decline in polytobacco use from ages 18 to 28 years. There were also statistically significant declines in ENDS, hookah, and cigar use but not in smokeless tobacco use, for which use was negligible, or in cigarette use. Importantly, cigarettes were the most used product at virtually all ages. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults may mature out of polytobacco use with increasing age, but they may continue to use some products, most notably cigarettes, potentially the most toxic and addictive tobacco and nicotine product.

Exposure to Point-of-Sale Marketing of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes as Predictors of Smoking Cessation Behaviors.

Introduction: Cue-reactivity theory suggests that smoking-related visual cues such as point-of-sale (POS) marketing (eg, advertising, product displays) may undermine cessation attempts by causing an increase in nicotine cravings among users. This study examined the relationship between recall of exposure to POS marketing and subsequent cessation behaviors among young adult cigarette smokers. Methods: Participants included 813, 18-29 year old (m = 21.1, SD = 2.70), current cigarette smokers attending 24 Texas colleges. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the impact of baseline self-reported exposure to cigarette and e-cigarette advertising and product displays, on using e-cigarettes for cessation and successful cigarette cessation at 6-month follow-up. Two-way interactions between product-specific advertising and between product-specific displays were examined to determine if the marketing of one product strengthened the cue reactivity of the other. Baseline covariates included sociodemographic factors, past quit attempts, intentions to quit smoking, and nicotine dependence. Results: Exposure to e-cigarette displays was associated with lower odds of cigarette smoking cessation, controlling for covariates and conventional cigarette display exposure. E-cigarette advertising was positively associated with the use of e-cigarettes for cigarette cessation among participants exposed to low (ie, at least 1 SD below the mean) levels of cigarette advertising. Cigarette advertising was associated with the use of e-cigarettes for cigarette cessation only among those exposed to low levels of e-cigarette advertising. Exposure to cigarette displays was not associated with either outcome. Conclusion: Smoking-related cues at POS may undermine successful cigarette cessation. Exposure to product displays decrease odds of cessation. Advertising exposure increased odds for using e-cigarettes for cessation attempts, but may have guided smokers towards an unproven cessation aid. Implications: By examining the interaction of conventional cigarette and e-cigarette marketing exposure, this study adds a unique insight into the impact of retail tobacco marketing on cigarette smoking cessation behavior among young adults. These findings suggest that policies that balance encouraging cigarette smoking cessation while limiting marketing strategies should be considered, such as POS product displays, that may undermine successful cessation attempts.

Longitudinal Patterns of Multiple Tobacco and Nicotine Product Use Among Texas College Students: a Latent Transition Analysis.

Diverse tobacco and nicotine products have altered the terrain of tobacco use behaviors. Limited research has examined contemporary patterns of use among young adults. This study identified tobacco and nicotine product use groups and examined changes in young adults' use patterns, across a 1.5-year period. Participants were 5,482 18-29-year-old students (M age = 20.5, SD = 2.36; 63% female) from 24 Texas colleges who completed a four-wave bi-annual online survey. Latent transition analysis was used to identify groups from 10 items (ever and current use of cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, and hookah) and to examine probabilities of transitioning between groups over four waves. Five groups were identified: Non-users (30%), Poly-experimenters (26%), Hookah experimenters (18%), E-cigarette & hookah experimenters (15%), and Poly-cigarette users (11%). Few students transitioned between groups over time. Poly-cigarette users had the highest average probability of remaining stable over time (1.00), followed by E-cigarette & hookah experimenters (.97), Non-users (.94), Poly-experimenters (.93), and Hookah experimenters (.92). All groups became more stable over time except Hookah experimenters whose members were most likely to transition to Poly-cigarette users or other experimenter groups. The greatest transition was from Poly-experimenters to Poly-cigarette users with probabilities of .10, .08, and .03 for transitioning between waves one and two, two and three, and three and four, respectively. There was substantial poly-use and experimentation, which may explain little movement between groups over the 1.5-year time period and underscores the need for prevention programs targeting multiple product use among college students.

Sexual and Gender Minority College Students and Tobacco Use in Texas.

Introduction: Most research regarding sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations is limited to examination of cigarette or general tobacco use or does not examine heterogeneity across SGM groups other than lesbian or gay and bisexual individuals. This study examined differences in the odds of current use and age of initiation of five tobacco/nicotine products among three groups of SGM young adults who self-identified as (1) gay or lesbian, (2) bisexual, and (3) queer, transgender, or "other," compared to their heterosexual peers. Methods: Participants were 4252 college students aged 18-29 years from 24 colleges in Texas who completed an online tobacco use survey. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine the odds of SGM participants currently using each tobacco product. Multilevel linear regression models were used to examine the association of current product users' SGM status with self-reported age of each product's initiation. All models were adjusted for sociodemographic factors and accounted for students clustered within each college. Results: At least one SGM group had significantly greater odds of currently using every tobacco product type compared to heterosexual participants, except hookah. There were few differences across groups in age of initiation. However, queer, transgender, and "other-" identified participants initiated e-cigarettes 1.34 years younger than heterosexual participants, and bisexual participants initiated smokeless tobacco 3.66 years younger than heterosexual participants. Conclusions: Findings highlight some significant tobacco use disparities among SGM young adults compared to their heterosexual peers. Longitudinal studies with larger group sizes will identify prospective predictors of sustained SGM-related tobacco use disparities. Implications: This study extends the current literature by including the sexual and gender minority identity options of queer, transgender, and "other," highlighting disparities in tobacco use between young adults in these subgroups compared to their heterosexual peers, particularly in noncigarette tobacco product use. Findings underscore the need for the Food and Drug Association and other health agencies to tailor health communication efforts specific to sexual and gender minority populations pertaining to the risks and harms surrounding tobacco product use.

Flavored Cigars Appeal to Younger, Female, and Racial/Ethnic Minority College Students.

Introduction: This study examined the association of sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco and substance use behaviors, and reasons to use cigars in young adults' flavored and non-flavored cigar use. Methods: Participants were 523, 18- to 29- year-old young adult college students (60.4% male; 40.9% non-Hispanic white) who reported current (past 30-day) cigar use. Results: Almost 75% of the sample regularly chose flavored cigar products. Multilevel logistic regression analyses indicated that younger, female, and racial/ethnic minority cigar users had significantly greater odds of using flavored cigars than their counterparts. Current marijuana smokers, ever-blunt smokers, and students who reported using cigars because they were affordable and/or available in flavors they liked had a greater odds of flavored cigar use compared to their counterparts. Moreover, among dual users of cigars and cigarettes, those who cited using cigars because they were cheaper than cigarettes and because cigars felt like smoking regular cigarettes had greater odds of using flavored cigars compared to their peers. Number of days cigars were smoked and current use of other tobacco products were not associated with flavored cigar use. Conclusions: Appealing attributes of flavored cigars have the potential to contribute to the tobacco use and subsequent nicotine addiction of younger, female, and racial/ethnic minority young adults. The wide variety of cigar flavors, their attractive price, and similarity to cigarette smoking underscore the need for additional research that links these unique traits to sustained tobacco use, and underscore the need for regulation of flavored products. Implications: This study extends the current literature by finding that younger, female, and racial/ethnic minorities have greater odds of flavored cigar use than their peers. Flavored cigars have characteristics that appeal to members of these populations, which can contribute to their long-term use and potential for addiction.

Marketing Exposure Recall is Associated With Past 30-Day Single, Dual, Polytobacco Use Among US Adolescents.

Introduction: This study assesses the relationship between tobacco/e-cigarette marketing exposure and single, dual, and polytobacco product use, among adolescents. Given the increased use of noncigarette tobacco products (eg, cigars, e-cigarettes, hookah) among youth, it is imperative to understand if marketing exposure is associated with dual and polytobacco product use. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey and weighted to be representative of US middle and high school students. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess the relationships between product marketing (via internet, print, retail, and TV/movies) and past 30-day single, dual, and poly (three or more) tobacco product use. Three analyses were conducted using different categories as referent groups to allow for comprehensive examination of the relationships between all groups. Results: Marketing exposure was significantly correlated with a greater risk of single, dual, and polytobacco product use relative to nonusers. Relative to single product users, product marketing exposure was significantly correlated with a greater relative risk of dual and polytobacco use. There was no statistical difference in the association of marketing exposure between dual and polytobacco use, in any model. Conclusion: A positive relationship between tobacco product marketing exposure and number of tobacco products used was observed. The magnitude of the relationship grew from single product to dual/poly use. Restrictions of marketing of all tobacco products, similar to cigarettes, particularly in the retail setting, should be considered. Implications: This study has two primary public health implications. First, self-reported exposure to tobacco/e-cigarette marketing is widespread among adolescents of all tobacco product categories. Second, this widespread exposure to tobacco/e-cigarette marketing appears to not only be correlated with use of a single tobacco product (eg, cigarettes, e-cigarettes), but also multiple tobacco products. While longitudinal studies are needed to further investigate the relationships observed in this study, findings justify further study given the known relationship between tobacco marketing exposure and subsequent cigarette use.

Recall of Point-of-Sale Marketing Predicts Cigar and E-Cigarette Use Among Texas Youth.

Introduction: While research has documented associations between recall of point-of-sale (POS) tobacco marketing and youth tobacco use, much of the research is cross-sectional and focused on cigarettes. The present longitudinal study examined recall of tobacco marketing at the POS and multiple types of tobacco use 6 months later. Methods: The Texas Adolescent Tobacco Advertising and Marketing Surveillance System (TATAMS) is a large-scale, representative study of 6th, 8th, and 10th graders in 79 middle and high schools in five counties in Texas. Weighted logistic regression examined associations between recall of tobacco advertisements and products on display at baseline and ever use, current use, and susceptibility to use for cigarette, e-cigarette, cigar, and smokeless products 6 months later. Results: Students' recall of signs marketing e-cigarettes at baseline predicted ever e-cigarette use and increased susceptibility to use e-cigarettes at follow-up, across all store types. Recall of e-cigarette displays only predicted susceptibility to use e-cigarettes at follow-up, across all store types. Both recall of signs marketing cigars and cigar product displays predicted current and ever cigar smoking and increased susceptibility to smoking cigars at follow-up, across all store types. Recall of cigarette and smokeless product marketing and displays was not associated with tobacco use measures. Conclusion: The POS environment continues to be an important influence on youth tobacco use. Restrictions on POS marketing, particularly around schools, are warranted. Implications: Cross-sectional studies have shown that exposure to POS cigarette marketing is associated with use of cigarettes among youth, though longitudinal evidence of the same is sparse and mixed. Cross-sectional studies have found that recall of cigars, smokeless product, and e-cigarette tobacco marketing at POS is associated with curiosity about tobacco use or intentions to use tobacco among youth, but limited longitudinal research has been conducted. Findings from the present longitudinal study suggest that recall of tobacco marketing at retail POS predicts ever use of e-cigarettes and cigars, current use of cigars, and susceptibility to cigar and e-cigarette use among youth.

In Their Own Words: Young Adults' Menthol Cigarette Initiation, Perceptions, Experiences and Regulation Perspectives.

Background: Menthol cigarettes are disproportionately used by young people and have been called smoking starter products. However, limited qualitative research exists on young adults' perceptions of and experiences with these products, with much of it based on document reviews of the tobacco industry's research. Methods: We conducted six focus groups with young adult (ages 18-24) menthol smokers in New Jersey (half with black smokers) between December 2014 and March 2015. Participants were asked open-ended questions about their menthol smoking initiation, preference reasons, substitution behaviors, and perceptions of menthol cigarette risks and regulation. Results: Participants' menthol cigarette initiation and preference were influenced by their perceived popularity, brand recognition, taste, smoothness, satisfaction and access (including as "loosies," typically available for Newport). Some believed menthol cigarettes were less harmful than non-menthol cigarettes when initiating smoking. Many currently believed menthol cigarettes were more harmful because they contained extra "additives," were stronger (ie, requiring fewer cigarettes to feel satisfied), and/or based on hearsay. Many had tried new brand Camel Crush, which was perceived to be especially minty, fun, and attractive for newer smokers. While some used non-menthol cigarettes when menthols were unavailable, many said they would never or almost never substitute. Many acknowledged a menthol cigarettes ban would likely help them quit smoking, even though they did not support the idea. Conclusions: Menthol cigarette initiation is influenced by an interplay of multiple factors including their sensory properties, marketing, perceived popularity and availability. The FDA should continue to pursue closing this flavored cigarette loophole. Implications: In this first qualitative study of menthol cigarette use among young adults, we found further evidence that menthol cigarettes can act as starter products because they are perceived as easier to smoke and taste and smell better than non-menthol cigarettes. We also add to the literature in finding that menthol cigarettes are perceived by young people who smoke menthol cigarettes as delivering satisfaction with fewer cigarettes, being accessible as "loosies", and being popular among their peers. Many did not understand the reasons behind a potential menthol ban. Any future regulation of menthol cigarettes should include a public educational campaign to support buy-in.

Source Credibility and E-Cigarette Attitudes: Implications for Tobacco Communication.

As there are many conflicting sources of e-cigarette information, research is needed to determine the impact of these sources on e-cigarette attitudes to inform future communication campaigns. Source credibility is important in shaping attitudes toward other health topics; however, no study has examined its role in influencing e-cigarette attitudes. Data from the 2015 Health Information National Trends Survey-FDA (HINTS-FDA) were utilized to assess differences in trust in different sources by e-cigarette user status and to investigate the associations between trust in sources and e-cigarette attitudes (n = 3,738). Differences in trust in sources were examined using weighted linear regression. Associations between trust in sources of e-cigarette health effects and attitudes toward e-cigarettes were assessed using weighted logistic regression. Overall, e-cigarette ever users reported significantly lower trust in governmental agencies as compared to never users. Trust in e-cigarette companies was negatively associated with perceived addictiveness of e-cigarettes (AOR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.58, 1.00), while trust in doctors/pharmacists/healthcare providers was negatively associated with harm perceptions of e-cigarettes relative to conventional cigarettes (AOR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.55, 0.95). Trust in tobacco companies and trust in e-cigarette companies were negatively associated with absolute perceived harm of e-cigarettes (AOR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.51, 0.95; AOR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.46, 0.79, respectively). Results from this study indicate that the associations between trust in sources of e-cigarette health effects and e-cigarette attitudes differ both by source and specific attitude assessed. Ultimately, future campaigns should incorporate messaging to discredit industry sources of information and utilize non-governmental sources to effectively influence e-cigarette attitudes.

Positive Outcome Expectations and Tobacco Product Use Behaviors in Youth.

BACKGROUND: Outcome expectations are an important determinant of health behavior, according to Social Cognitive Theory; yet recent literature has not examined the relationship between outcome expectations and tobacco product use (e.g., use of cigarettes, cigars, hookah, e-cigarettes, or smokeless tobacco). OBJECTIVES: This study examines if outcome expectations at baseline, among an adolescent cohort of never users of tobacco products, predicts tobacco product use (i.e., cigarettes, hookah, e-cigarette, cigar, or smokeless tobacco) or susceptibility to use at 6-month follow-up. METHODS: Data are from the first two waves of a Texas cohort study of urban middle school and high school students, which were collected in 2014-2015. Logistic regression analyses were used; these adjusted for socio-demographic variables. Analyses were limited to never users of any tobacco product at baseline (n = 1999, N = 357,035). RESULTS: Outcome expectations related to stress relief predicted ever use of (AOR: 4.21, 95% CI 1.84-9.60) and susceptibility (AOR: 2.97, 95% CI 1.01-8.70) to tobacco products. Additional outcome expectations (e.g., relaxation, concentration, slimness, etc.) were not associated with ever use or susceptibility. Conclusions/Importance: This study extends the literature regarding outcome expectations among adolescents regarding tobacco products. It is important that interventions offer alternative solutions to stress relief that do not include tobacco products.

Depressive Symptoms Predict Current E-Cigarette Use Among College Students in Texas.

INTRODUCTION: No studies have examined the longitudinal relationship between e-cigarette use and elevated depressive symptoms among young adults. The main objective of the current study was to establish a potential bi-directional relationship between e-cigarette use and elevated depressive symptoms among college students in Texas, across a 1 year period of time. METHODS: A survey of 5445 college students in Texas was conducted with 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. A longitudinal cross-lagged model was used to simultaneously examine the bi-directional relationships between current, or past 30-day, e-cigarette use and elevated depressive symptoms across the three study waves. Depressive symptoms were measured using a 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) with a cutpoint of ≥ 10 to measure elevated depressive symptoms. Covariates included baseline age, gender, college type (2- or 4-year), and other alternative tobacco products used. RESULTS: E-cigarette use did not predict elevated depressive symptoms at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. However, depressive symptoms predicted e-cigarette use at both 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. CONCLUSIONS: The current study indicates that depressive symptoms predict subsequent e-cigarette use and not vice versa. Future studies are needed to replicate current findings and also further establish the mechanisms for causality, which could inform Food and Drug Administration regulatory planning. IMPLICATIONS: There has been recent evidence for cross-sectional associations between e-cigarette use and elevated depressive symptoms and mental health problems. There have been no studies examining these associations using longitudinal designs. This study established a temporal relationship, such that elevated depressive symptoms predicted e-cigarette use 6 months later among college students. Future research is needed to establish the mechanisms of association as well as causality.

Developing mobile phone text messages for tobacco risk communication among college students: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Engaging young adults for the purpose of communicating health risks associated with nicotine and tobacco use can be challenging since they comprise a population heavily targeted with appealing marketing by the evolving tobacco industry. The Food and Drug Administration seeks novel ways to effectively communicate risks to warn about using these products. This paper describes the first step in developing a text messaging program delivered by smartphones that manipulate three messaging characteristics (i.e., depth, framing, and appeal). METHODS: Perceptions of community college students were described after previewing text messages designed to inform about risks of using conventional and new tobacco products. Thirty-one tobacco users and nonusers, aged 18-25 participated in five focus discussions held on two community college campuses. Attendees reviewed prototype messages and contributed feedback about text message structure and content. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed using NVivo Version 10. RESULTS: Most participants were female and two-thirds were ethnic minorities. A variety of conventional and new tobacco products in the past month were used by a third of participants. Three identified domains were derived from the qualitative data. These included perceived risks of using tobacco products, receptivity to message content, and logistical feedback regarding the future message campaign. CONCLUSION: Overall, participants found the messages to be interesting and appropriate. A gap in awareness of the risks of using new tobacco products was revealed. Feedback on the prototype messages was incorporated into message revisions. These findings provided preliminary confirmation that the forthcoming messaging program will be appealing to young adults.

Using Cognitive Interviewing to Better Assess Young Adult E-cigarette Use.

INTRODUCTION: Characteristics of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) make assessment of their use a challenge for researchers. Cognitive interviews are a way of gaining insight into participants' interpretations of survey questions and the methods they use in answering them, to improve survey tools. METHODS: We used cognitive interviews to modify a young adult survey and improve assessment of quantity and frequency of ENDS use, as well as reasons for initiation and use of ENDS products. Twenty-five college students between the ages of 18 and 32 participated in individual cognitive interviews, which assessed question comprehension, answer estimation, retrieval processes, and answer response processes. RESULTS: Comprehension issues arose discerning between ENDS device types (eg, cigalikes vs. vape pens), and answer estimation issues arose regarding ENDS use as drug delivery systems. These issues appeared to improve when pictures were added specifying the device in question, as well as when specific language naming nicotine as the ENDS product content was added to survey questions. Regarding answer retrieval, this sample of users had problems reporting their frequency of ENDS use, as well as quantifying the amount of ENDS products consumed (eg, volume of e-juice, number of cartridges, nicotine concentration). CONCLUSIONS: Accurate assessment of ENDS products proved challenging, but cognitive interviews provided valuable insight into survey interpretation that was otherwise inaccessible to researchers. Future research that explores how to assess the wide array of ENDS devices, as well as possible population differences among specific device-type users would be valuable to public health researchers and professionals. IMPLICATIONS: This study extends the current literature by using cognitive interviews to test ENDS assessment questions in a sample of young adults, a population at elevated risk for ENDS use. Problems encountered when answering ENDS use questions underscore the need to develop easily understood ENDS questions that allow for quantification of ENDS use. Future research examining the nature of ENDS product types and different levels of user experience will yield valuable assessment tools for researchers and tobacco control professionals.