Eating Disorder Symptomatology Among Young Adult Cigarette and E-Cigarette Users.

Objective: Tobacco use is elevated among individuals with eating disorders (EDs). Yet, further research is needed to understand associations between cigarette and e-cigarette use patterns and ED symptomatology. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of tobacco use and EDs, this study characterized ED symptomatology and tobacco use patterns, including exclusive cigarette use, e-cigarette use, dual use, and nonuse. Method: Young adults aged 18-24 years who self-reported exclusive cigarette, e-cigarette, dual, or nonuse (N = 2500) were recruited via Lucid, an online survey management company. Participants completed questionnaires assessing body dissatisfaction, global ED psychopathology, binge eating and self-induced vomiting frequency, and demographics. ED diagnostic groups included: anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia spectrum eating disorders (BSED), atypical AN, and night eating syndrome (NES). Results: Multinomial logistic models revealed those with AN were more likely to be dual users, those with atypical AN were more likely to be exclusive e-cigarette users, and participants with a BSED or NES were more likely to be exclusive e-cigarette or dual users, compared to those without an ED. General linear models suggested body dissatisfaction and global ED psychopathology were higher among exclusive e-cigarette and dual users, while binge eating and self-induced vomiting frequencies were greater among all tobacco use groups compared to nonusers. Discussion: Our findings suggest young adults with ED symptomatology were more likely to be users of e-cigarettes exclusively or dual users. It will be necessary to examine how these associations manifest using longitudinal and clinical populations in future research.

Perceiving E-Cigarettes as Safe and Safer Alternative to Cigarettes Among Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Young adults are using e-cigarettes at high rates. While the literature on the health risks associated with e-cigarettes is extensive and growing, little is known about young adults' thoughts and perceptions of the safety and harms of e-cigarettes. METHODS: We conducted one-on-one interviews with young adults aged 18 to 25 years in Los Angeles, California between June 2018 and June 2019. We interviewed and audio-recorded young adults (N = 62) who consented to the study and self-reported to have used e-cigarettes on a weekly basis or more for at least 5 months prior to study enrollment. Interviews examined participants' thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to e-cigarette use. We audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded the interviews using grounded theory analysis methods. RESULTS: Young adults often believed that e-cigarettes were safer than cigarettes and were safe to use, especially following positive vaping experiences. Young adults were skeptical of the available science on e-cigarette use and felt there was not conclusive data on the harms of e-cigarettes. In their selection of e-cigarettes over cigarettes, young adults felt they were making a conscious and healthier choice. Because young adults viewed e-cigarettes to be better for them based on their personal experiences with vaping, they felt e-cigarettes were a superior alternative to combustible tobacco. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults in our study believed that the long-term health effects of e-cigarette use are not clearly understood and were generally skeptical of the research on e-cigarette harms. Policy, education, and anti-smoking campaigns need to clarify the negative health-related consequences of e-cigarette use for young people.

Mechanisms of improved body composition among perimenopausal women practicing Meditative Movement: a proposed biobehavioral model.

OBJECTIVES: Weight gain and unfavorable body composition are prevalent among midlife/older women throughout menopause. These shifts may negatively impact health, well-being, and longevity. Efforts to attenuate weight and body composition changes are traditionally driven by manipulation of diet and/or exercise; however, sustained results are limited, possibly because the full spectrum of biobehavioral systems is not addressed by diet and exercise alone. We propose a biobehavioral model detailing mechanisms of body composition decline among perimenopausal women and the associated components of Meditative Movement (ie, tai chi, qigong, yoga) that address each of these factors. METHODS: Based on our previous work and extensive review of the literature, we developed a multifactorial and multidimensional biobehavioral model including factors that most directly relate to body composition among perimenopausal women: 1) psychological (ie, stress and mood, mindfulness and self-compassion, body awareness), 2) behavioral (ie, sleep, physical activity, eating behaviors), and 3) physiological (ie, cortisol, estrogen). Relationships between each factor, Meditative Movement practice components, and predicted effects on body composition were explored in detail. RESULTS: Our model describes select psychological, behavioral, and physiological factors, and potential mechanistic pathways of Meditative Movement practice driving improved changes in body composition and weight outcomes for perimenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed model details a novel, evidence-supported means to reduce the risk of deleterious shifts in body composition throughout perimenopause and menopause thereafter. We suggest that these changes may occur directly and/or indirectly through psychological, behavioral, and physiological mechanisms that facilitate the desired changes in body composition.

E-cigarette weight and appetite control beliefs and e-cigarette initiation in young adults.

E-cigarette use has increased among young adults, and emerging research suggests a subset of young adults report using e-cigarettes for appetite control/weight loss. The current article examined the association of e-cigarette weight control beliefs with subsequent e-cigarette initiation. Data were collected via online surveys from a prospective cohort study of young adults in Southern California (N = 1,368) at baseline (May-October 2020; M [SD]age = 21.2 [0.4]) and 6 months later (January-May 2021). Binary logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of e-cigarette weight control beliefs (i.e., perceptions that e-cigarettes help people lose weight and satisfy hunger and desire to eat unhealthy foods) with new onset e-cigarette use at follow-up. All models were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. Among individuals who had never used e-cigarettes at baseline, those who agreed (vs. disagreed) that e-cigarettes help people lose weight had more than three times the odds of initiating e-cigarette use by follow-up (OR [95% CI]: 3.24 [1.52, 6.62]). Similarly, those who agreed (vs. disagreed) that vaping certain e-cigarette flavors help satisfy hunger and desire to eat unhealthy foods had more than twice the odds of initiating e-cigarette use by follow-up (OR [95% CI]: 2.40 [1.15, 4.82]). Findings highlight that e-cigarette weight control beliefs are an important risk factor for vaping initiation. Future interventions and policies aiming to prevent vaping among young adults should address e-cigarette weight control beliefs and long-term health consequences from related use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Associations of alternative cannabis product use and poly-use with subsequent illicit drug use initiation during adolescence.

RATIONALE: Specific cannabis products may differentially increase risk of initiating non-cannabis illicit drug use during adolescence. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ever- and poly-use of smoked, vaporized, edible, concentrate, or blunt cannabis products are associated with subsequent initiation of non-cannabis illicit drug use. METHODS: High school students from Los Angeles completed in-classroom surveys. The analytic sample (N = 2163; 53.9% female; 43.5% Hispanic/Latino; baseline M age = 17.1 years) included students who reported never using illicit drugs at baseline (spring, 11th grade) and provided data at follow-up (fall and spring, 12th grade). Logistic regression models assessed associations between use of smoked, vaporized, edible, concentrate, and blunt cannabis at baseline (yes/no for each product) and any non-cannabis illicit drug use initiation-including cocaine, methamphetamine, psychedelics, ecstasy, heroin, prescription opioids, or benzodiazepines-at follow-up. RESULTS: Among those who never used non-cannabis illicit drugs at baseline, ever cannabis use varied by cannabis product (smoked = 25.8%, edible = 17.5%, vaporized = 8.4%, concentrates = 3.9%, and blunts = 18.2%) and patterns of use (single product use = 8.2% and poly-product use = 21.8%). After adjustment for baseline covariates, odds of illicit drug use at follow-up were largest for baseline ever users of concentrates (aOR [95% CI] = 5.74[3.16-10.43]), followed by vaporized (aOR [95% CI] = 3.11 [2.41-4.01]), edibles (aOR [95% CI] = 3.43 [2.32-5.08]), blunts (aOR [95% CI] = 2.66[1.60-4.41]), and smoked (aOR [95% CI] = 2.57 [1.64-4.02]) cannabis. Ever use of a single product (aOR [95% CI] = 2.34 [1.26-4.34]) or 2 + products (aOR [95% CI] = 3.82 [2.73-5.35]) were also associated with greater odds of illicit drug initiation. CONCLUSIONS: For each of five different cannabis products, cannabis use was associated with greater odds of subsequent illicit drug use initiation, especially for cannabis concentrate and poly-product use.

Effect of a hypothetical modified risk tobacco product claim on heated tobacco product use intention and perceptions in young adults.

INTRODUCTION: Modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) claims for heated tobacco products (HTPs) that convey reduced exposure compared with conventional cigarettes may promote product initiation and transition among young people. We assessed the effects of a hypothetical MRTP claim for HTPs on young adults' intention and perceptions of using HTPs and whether these effects differed by their current cigarette and e-cigarette use. METHODS: We embedded a randomised between-subjects experiment into a web-based survey administered among a cohort of 2354 Southern California young adults (aged 20-23) in 2020. Participants viewed depictions of HTPs with an MRTP claim (n=1190) or no claim (n=1164). HTP use intention and HTP-related harm and use perceptions relative to cigarettes and e-cigarettes were assessed. RESULTS: Overall, participants who viewed versus did not view the claim did not differ in HTP use intention (28.5% vs 28.7%) but were more likely to perceive HTPs as less harmful than cigarettes (11.4% vs 7.0%; p<0.001). The experimental effect on HTP use intention did not differ among past 30-day cigarette smokers versus non-smokers (interaction adjusted OR (AOR)=0.78, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.76) but differed among past 30-day e-cigarette users versus non-users (interaction AOR=1.67, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.68). DISCUSSION: The hypothetical MRTP claim may lower young adults' HTP harm perceptions compared with cigarettes but may not change HTP use intention overall or differentially for cigarette smokers. The larger effect on HTP use intention among e-cigarette users than non-users raises the question of whether MRTP claims may promote HTP use or HTP and e-cigarette dual use among young e-cigarette users.

Prospective Associations of Tobacco Weight Control Beliefs with E-Cigarette Use Patterns in the PATH Study.

INTRODUCTION: Some adolescents report using e-cigarettes (EC) for weight-related reasons, but longitudinal studies are lacking. This study examined associations between tobacco weight control beliefs and body mass index (BMI) with EC use patterns over one year. METHODS: Data from Waves 1 and 2 (September 2013 to October 2015) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study were used. Questions about tobacco weight control beliefs, EC use patterns (never, ever, never to current, ever to current, current to current), cigarette and other tobacco product use, demographics, and BMI were examined among adolescent respondents across Wave 1 and Wave 2. RESULTS: Most adolescents were never EC users (85.8%). Prevalence of EC use patterns was low across categories of use (0.6%-5.3%). Higher BMI was associated with transition from ever but not current use at Wave 1 to current use at Wave 2. Greater baseline tobacco weight control beliefs and increases in tobacco weight control beliefs were associated with most EC use patterns compared to never use. CONCLUSIONS: Greater tobacco weight control beliefs were risk factors for e-cigarette initiation and maintenance among a nationally representative sample of adolescents. BMI was minimally associated with e-cigarette use patterns. Additional studies are needed to replicate and further examine these preliminary prospective associations between weight control beliefs and EC use.

A chocolate cake or a chocolate vape? Young adults describe their relationship with food and weight in the context of nicotine vaping.

INTRODUCTION: Emerging research has found that some young adults report vaping nicotine to control appetite and lose weight. Yet, there is little research on how young adults use vaping to manage weight, where they learn about weight-motivated vaping, and the role that food and weight motivations play in decisions to vape. METHODS: We conducted one-on-one qualitative interviews with young adults aged 18-25 years old in Los Angeles, California (N = 62) from June 2018 to June 2019, who self-reported using e-cigarettes on a weekly basis or more for at least 5 months prior to study enrollment. Interviews examined participants' thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to e-cigarette use, including their understanding of the relation of vaping with eating behaviors and weight management. We analyzed the interviews using the rigorous and accelerated data reduction (RADaR) technique. RESULTS: Participants reported pairing nicotine vaping with caffeinated beverages like coffee, pop/soda, tea, and after every meal (like patterns of combustible cigarette use). Participants also reported vaping nicotine as a tool to avoid binge eating and increase concentration while studying. Reports of vaping effecting appetite and eating behaviors also emerged. Vaping nicotine to suppress appetite and/or achieve weight loss was often reported in conjunction with an eating disorder. Participants reported learning about weight-motivated vaping from peers or deducing from cigarette effects and their own experiences with nicotine. Others mentioned controlling food cravings by vaping a similar e-liquid flavor. CONCLUSION: Nicotine vaping was used as a tool to control weight and suppress appetite, paralleling food- and weight-related behaviors associated with cigarette use. Findings suggest a need for targeted interventions that address the role of nicotine vaping in eating/weight-related behaviors.

Differences in Young Adults' Perceptions of and Willingness to Use Nicotine Pouches by Tobacco Use Status.

Oral nicotine pouches may appeal to young adult current nicotine/tobacco users interested in alternative forms of nicotine that lack pulmonary exposure, but may also appeal to young adult non-users of nicotine/tobacco products. We used data from a 2020 remote digital survey of an ongoing cohort study of young adults from Southern California (aged 19-23) to examine differences in pouch perceptions and use willingness across nicotine/tobacco use statuses. Participants who had never used nicotine pouches (N = 1167) viewed text/imagery from mass-marketed pouch packaging and advertising, then completed measures of willingness to use nicotine pouches, pouch harm perceptions, and hypothetical choice of cigarettes or e-cigarettes over pouches. Willingness to use pouches was significantly higher among non-combustible only (33.8%), combustible only (29.3%), and dual (43.9%) users than non-users (14.7%). Overall, 49.1% of participants were uncertain whether pouches were less harmful than cigarettes and 52.4% were uncertain whether pouches were less harmful than e-cigarettes. Relative harm perceptions did not significantly differ by tobacco use status. Those using non-combustible products (either alone or as part of dual use with combustible tobacco) had greater odds than non-users of reporting that they would use e-cigarettes over nicotine pouches. By contrast, all tobacco product user groups reported greater odds than non-users that they would use cigarettes over pouches. In sum, a sizable minority of young adults might be willing to try using nicotine pouches, but most are uncertain about the relative harm of pouches.

Trajectories of Nicotine Use Leading to Dual and Cyclical Tobacco Product Use in Young Adults.

INTRODUCTION: Young adult never-smokers who vape are at elevated risk of initiating cigarettes, while young adults who smoke often begin vaping to substitute or reduce cigarette use. Reasons underlying different use patterns of tobacco products are not well-understood. AIMS AND METHODS: We conducted 1-on-1 qualitative interviews with young adults (N = 62) who vape in Los Angeles, California from June 2018 to June 2019. Participants were 18-25 years old (79% male; racially/ethnically diverse) and self-reported vaping ≥1x/week. We used a semi-structured interview guide and applied thematic analysis method to analyze data. RESULTS: Young adults initiated vaping due to peer socialization and e-liquid flavor novelty. They often reported vaping (after first smoking) due to a belief that e-cigarettes are healthier, social pressure to quit smoking, and convenience of use. Participants reported smoking (after first vaping) when traveling outside of the United States where vaping products were less accessible, and cigarettes were normative. Many of the personal narratives described patterns of dual and cyclical use, which was often attributed to nicotine dependence and cost, or described as dependent upon the current environment (eg, at a party). CONCLUSIONS: The current study characterizes nicotine use trajectories and reasons why young adults vape, and smoke cigarettes. Dual and cyclical use of both e-cigarettes and cigarettes was common; this pattern of use should be considered in policy and prevention work to address nicotine dependence among young people. IMPLICATIONS: We display findings from the current study in a model depicting common trajectories of nicotine use, along with reasons for initiation, transitions between products, and dual/cyclical e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use.

Critical Challenges and Creative Solutions for Quantifying Nicotine Vaping: Qualitative Reports From Young Adults.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies suggest that young adults who vape nicotine experience difficulty when answering survey items assessing the quantity of vaping. The current study asked young adults who vape to provide suggestions for improving the scientific measurement of vaping. AIMS AND METHODS: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 62 young adults who vape in Los Angeles, California between June 2018 and June 2019. We analyzed participants' responses to the following question: "What do you think is the best way for us to understand how much people vape?" using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: We identified two major themes: (1) challenges stemming from differences between the way researchers query about vaping and how individuals self-monitor vaping frequency, and (2) insights for future measurement of vaping. Participants reported that challenges of accurately quantifying vaping were due to inherently hard-to-answer questions (eg, puffs per day), lack of awareness of or not actively monitoring consumption of vaping products, or because vaping behaviors vary considerably between and within individuals over time, making "on-average" questions challenging. Participants discussed ideas for improving survey measures that could accurately assess vaping quantity, including querying about the type of device used, and frequency of replenishment of nicotine solutions. CONCLUSIONS: Existing vaping behavior survey measures may not accurately capture the quantity of vaping as they differ from how (or if) participants track their own vaping consumption patterns. While continued research is needed to optimally refine survey measures on vaping consumption, future measures may better align with vapers' self-monitoring by including questions on device-type and replenishment frequency. IMPLICATIONS: The present study provides insights regarding the variability that exists between vaping quantity measurements utilized by researchers and individuals who consume e-cigarettes. The qualitative data analyzed for this study support previous reports of difficulties faced by vapers when asked questions by researchers related to their vaping behavior. Furthermore, the present findings suggest the direction for the future development of accurate measurements of vaping frequency.

Nicotine dependence symptoms in U.S. youth who use JUUL E-cigarettes.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence, patterns, and correlates of self-reported nicotine dependence symptoms among U.S. youth who use JUUL - a widely-sold e-cigarette brand - in 2019 and compare findings to nicotine dependence symptoms in youth who smoke cigarettes. METHODS: Data were from a nationally-representative subsample of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in the Monitoring the Future Study who had used JUUL or cigarettes in the past 30 days. Participants self-reported presence/absence of 9 different nicotine dependence symptoms for JUUL or cigarettes. Weighted percentages for JUUL or cigarette nicotine dependence symptom status (≥1 vs. 0 symptoms) and severity (count, range: 0-9) were calculated. Among JUUL users, we estimated associations of sociodemographic characteristics and other substance use with nicotine dependence and severity. RESULTS: Among 1,748 past 30-day JUUL users, 41.3 % screened positive for ≥1 nicotine dependence symptoms; the mean symptom count was 1.6 (SD = 2.6). Non-nicotine substance use and more frequent JUUL use was associated with significantly greater odds of dependence and more severe dependence symptoms in multivariable models. The severity distribution of most (craving) and least (inability to quit) dependence symptom types observed in JUUL dependence paralleled those observed in analysis of combustible cigarette dependence symptoms in past 30-day smokers. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of U.S. adolescent JUUL users reported symptoms of nicotine dependence, which is greater for those who vape more frequently and use other substances. Nicotine dependence screening, prevention, and regulatory policies addressing use of JUUL or similar e-cigarette products should be considered to protect U.S. youth.

Behavioral Health Risk Factors for Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use in Adolescence.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent nonmedical prescription opioid use is associated with overdose and other adverse outcomes, but its risk factors are poorly understood. METHODS: Data were drawn from a prospective cohort study of Los Angeles, California, high school students. At baseline (mean age = 14.6 years), students completed self-report screening measures of problem alcohol, cannabis, and drug use and 6 mental health problems (major depression, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and hypomania or mania). Past 6-month nonmedical prescription opioid use (yes or no) was assessed across 7 semiannual follow-ups. RESULTS: Among baseline never users of nonmedical prescription opioids (N = 3204), average past 6-month prevalence of new nonmedical prescription opioid use across the 42-month follow-up was 4.4% (range 3.5%-6.1%). In a multivariable model co-adjusting for 9 baseline behavioral problems and other factors, major depression, hypomania or mania, cannabis, alcohol, and other drug use problems were associated with increased odds of nonmedical prescription opioid use over follow-ups. Cumulative indices of behavioral health comorbidity showed successively greater odds of subsequent nonmedical prescription opioid use for students with 1 (odds ratio [OR]: 3.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.79-5.01), 2 (OR: 8.79; 95% CI: 5.95-12.99), or 3 (OR: 9.69; 95% CI: 5.63-16.68) vs 0 baseline substance use problems, and similar increases were associated with increasing number of mental health problems (1 [OR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.03-2.88] to all 6 [OR: 3.98; 95% CI: 1.09-14.82] vs 0). CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral health problems may be associated with increased risk of subsequent nonmedical prescription opioid use during mid to late adolescence, with successively greater risk for those with greater behavioral health comorbidity. In pediatric clinical practice or school-based prevention, behavioral health screeners may be useful for identifying youth at high risk for nonmedical prescription opioid use.

Anhedonia in tobacco withdrawal among African-American smokers.

Anhedonia-diminished interest and pleasure in response to rewards-may be a symptom of tobacco withdrawal that is understudied in priority populations. This experiment investigated the magnitude and correlates of various dimensions of anhedonia during tobacco withdrawal among African-American (AA) smokers-a population subject to health disparities. AA smokers (N = 607; ≥ 10 cigarettes/day, 37.8% female, M[SD] age = 50.0[10.6] years) completed self-report measures assessing expected pleasure from (i.e., consummatory anhedonia) and desire to engage in (i.e., anticipatory anhedonia) various types of hypothetically experienced rewards at counterbalanced 16-hr tobacco deprived and nondeprived lab visits. Other tobacco withdrawal symptom measures (e.g., craving, negative affect, hunger) were also assessed. Tobacco deprivation most robustly increased scores on a composite measure of consummatory anhedonia directed toward various reward domains (i.e., hobbies, sensory experiences, social activities; d = .32, p < .001). Deprivation modestly increased consummatory and anticipatory anhedonia directed toward sexual rewards (ds = .09-.12, ps < .02), did not significantly change anhedonia toward food rewards, and decreased anhedonia directed toward psychoactive drug rewards (i.e., increased desire for and pleasure from drugs; ds = -.21 to -.19, ps < .001). Deprivation-induced changes in anhedonia were modestly correlated with other withdrawal symptoms (average |r|s = .04-.23) and were amplified among participants with higher nicotine dependence and lower positive affect-related traits (|ß|s = .10-.12, ps < .01). Some dimensions of anhedonia may be genuine expressions of acute tobacco withdrawal in AA smokers. Applying multi-dimensional anhedonia conceptualizations might advance basic knowledge and treatment of tobacco use disorder, improve smoking cessation outcomes, and address tobacco-related health disparities facing AA smokers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Characterizing symptoms of e-cigarette dependence: a qualitative study of young adults.

BACKGROUND: While rates of e-cigarette use ('vaping') continue to potentiate concern, there is limited data on common symptoms of e-cigarette dependence among young adults who vape. This study sought to critically explore how young adults experience, manifest, and conceptualize vaping dependence symptoms in their everyday lives. METHODS: Between June 2018 and 2019, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 62 young adults who use e-cigarettes (aged 18-25) and live in Southern California. We explored participants' product preferences, daily e-cigarette use patterns, vaping history, withdrawal experiences, and quit attempts or periods of cessation. We used a thematic analysis approach to interpret the transcripts. RESULTS: Young adults discussed nine dimensions of vaping dependence that were organized into two categories: 1) general nicotine dependence symptoms, and 2) unique dependence symptoms related to vaping. Nicotine dependence symptoms included cravings and urgency to use, increased use to achieve desired effects, and unsuccessful quit attempts and withdrawal. Symptoms unique to vaping dependence included greater nicotine consumption due to accessibility and lack of restrictions, habitual vaping, inability to track vaping frequency, immediate gratification and comfort, social acceptability and norms, and awareness of vaping dependency. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to nicotine dependence symptoms that have been characterized for other tobacco products, young adult e-cigarette users described unique symptoms of vaping dependence that necessitate the need for more refined measures. All dimensions of vaping dependence should be considered in discussions of policies as well as treatment and education efforts intended to protect young people from e-cigarette dependence.

Distress tolerance and subsequent substance use throughout high school.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of perceived distress tolerance-one's ability to endure aversive experiences-with subsequent substance use frequency during adolescence. METHODS: High school students (N = 3,203) were surveyed semiannually from 2013 to 2017. The Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) was administered at baseline (9th grade) and self-reported past 30-day number of days used of alcohol, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cannabis, and opioids (range: 0-30) were assessed at all timepoints. Self-reported baseline ever (vs. never) use of each substance and depressive/anxiety symptom status (clinical and subclinical vs. none) were tested as moderators. RESULTS: Among baseline never substance users, a greater baseline mean DTS score was associated with fewer days of alcohol, cigarette, and opioid use in past-30 days over 4 years of follow-up (IRR range = 0.60-0.84); among ever-users, baseline mean DTS was not significantly associated with substance use across follow-up timepoints (p-interaction = 0.03). The association of DTS and frequency of substance use did not differ by baseline mental health status for any substance (all ps > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Greater perceived distress tolerance at the start of high school may be a protective factor against substance use frequency prior to initial use. Interventions that build distress tolerance in early adolescence may be warranted to prevent higher frequency substance use throughout high school.

Young adult perspectives on their respiratory health symptoms since vaping.

Background: Vaping among young adults (YA) has been associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes. However, key gaps remain in the literature including perspectives from YA vapers on perceived respiratory health symptoms since vaping, how they describe those symptoms and related experiences, and factors to which they attribute their respiratory health symptoms. Methods: Participants (N = 35) were 18-25 years old and self-reported as currently vaping at least once per week. In-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted using an open-ended interview guide designed to elicit respondents' subjective vaping-related experiences. We used a thematic analysis to interpret the transcripts. Results: Participants reported adverse respiratory health symptoms (e.g., phlegm, cough, pain in lungs) that some attributed to vaping. Participants compared what is known about vaping to what is known about combustible cigarettes and described continued use of vaping products despite perceived adverse respiratory health consequences. Some participants attributed their symptoms to preexisting medical conditions (e.g., asthma) and to heavy vaping. Some described a decline in exercise-related endurance since vaping. Some participants also reported that they experienced worse respiratory symptoms when using specific brands and products (e.g., JUUL and nicotine salt formulation). Conclusions: This study provides powerful accounts from YA vapers about their experience of respiratory health symptoms that they ascribe to vaping. Future research is needed to evaluate the prevalence and severity, as well as the risk and protective factors, of adverse respiratory health symptoms associated with vaping. Addiction prevention and treatment efforts for YA vapers may help curtail adverse respiratory health impact from vaping.

Accessing Vaping Products When Underage: A Qualitative Study of Young Adults in Southern California.

INTRODUCTION: California implemented multiple strategies, such as a Tobacco 21 law and compliance checks, to reduce high rates of youth e-cigarette use. However, the prevalence of use among underage youth and young adults continues rising. Little is known about how underage individuals obtain e-cigarettes. AIMS AND METHODS: We conducted structured qualitative interviews with 61 young adult (18-25 years old) vapers in the Los Angeles, CA area between June 2018 and June 2019. Interviews were comprehensive and designed to elicit information on participants' thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to vaping. We queried participants on where and how they obtained vaping products, and participants discussed their experiences accessing products while under the legal age for sale. Directed content analysis was used to analyze interviews. RESULTS: Four concepts emerged: (1) early experimentation of e-cigarettes with peers often occurred in a school setting, (2) continued use of e-cigarettes commonly obtained through peer sales, (3) inconsistent implementation of age restrictions at in-person retailers, and (4) at online retailers. Participants had peers purchase products on their behalf and frequented in-person and online retailers with few to no age verification processes. Few participants faced challenges when purchasing products from retailers. CONCLUSIONS: The current study's findings offer insight into where and how underage individuals obtain vaping products despite restrictions to prevent them from doing so. Participant accounts of mixed ease of underage purchasing in-person and online suggest retailer education is needed, along with additional research to inform more effective policies to reduce underage access to vaping products. IMPLICATIONS: Despite legal age restrictions, e-cigarettes remain accessible to underage individuals, but specific strategies that underage youth utilize to evade legal age restrictions are largely unknown. We found that participants often accessed vaping products for the first time at school. Sales between peers were common, and participants also reported frequenting in-person retailers that inconsistently enforced age restrictions. Many participants reported little to no age verification online, though some believed online age verification measures were increasingly difficult to surpass. Knowledge of strategies underage youth utilize to access e-cigarettes can inform enforcement efforts.

Assessment of Nicotine and Cannabis Vaping and Respiratory Symptoms in Young Adults.

Importance: Rates of e-cigarette use (ie, nicotine vaping) and cannabis vaping continue to increase among youth and young adults. However, the association of nicotine and cannabis vaping with independent respiratory health outcomes has not been well studied. Objective: To investigate associations of nicotine and cannabis vaping with bronchitic symptoms, wheeze, and shortness of breath. Design, Setting, and Participants: Cross-sectional survey data on self-reported lifetime, 6-month, and 30-day vaping from 2553 young adults recruited from high schools in Southern California were collected from June 2018 to October 2019. Of these participants, 94% provided data for shortness of breath and wheeze, and 86% provided data for chronic bronchitis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Self-reported nicotine and cannabis vaping were measured on a Likert-type scale using the following responses: (1) never used, (2) lifetime but no past 6-month use, (3) past 6-month use but no use in the past 30 days, (4) use on 1 or 2 of the past 30 days, and (5) use on 3 or more of the past 30 days. Three respiratory health outcomes were assessed separately on the basis of self-reported symptoms: bronchitic symptoms in the previous 12 months (ie, daily cough for 3 months in a row, congestion or phlegm other than with a cold, and/or bronchitis), wheeze in the previous 12 months, and shortness of breath when hurrying on level ground or walking up a slight hill. Results: Of 2553 participants in the analytic sample (mean [SD] age, 19.3 [0.79] years; 1477 [57.9%] female individuals), 1095 of 2553 young adults (42.9%) reported vaping nicotine and 939 of 2553 (38.4%) reported vaping cannabis. Compared with those who never vaped cannabis, individuals who vaped cannabis in their lifetime but not in the past 60 months (204 of 2553 [8.4%]; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.83 [95% CI, 1.08-3.10]), in the past 6 months but not in the last 30 days (490 of 2443 [20.1%]; aOR, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.02-2.46]), 1-2 days in the past 30 days (90 of 2443 [3.7%]; aOR, 2.83 [95% CI, 1.46-5.50]), and 3 or more days in the past 30 days (155 of 2443 [6.3%]; aOR, 2.14 [95% CI, 1.16-3.92]) had significantly higher odds of chronic bronchitic symptoms after adjusting for nicotine vaping, cigarette smoking, cannabis smoking, and sociodemographic characteristics. Cannabis vaping 3 or more times in the last 30 days was also associated with increased odds of wheeze (aOR, 2.27 [95% CI, 1.17-4.37]). Associations of cannabis vaping with shortness of breath and nicotine vaping with any respiratory health outcome were not statistically significant in fully adjusted models. Conclusions and Relevance: Findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that cannabis vaping is associated with increased risk of bronchitic symptoms and wheeze in young adults. Further research is needed to understand the temporality of the association and the mechanisms underlying the difference between nicotine and cannabis vaping in the risk of bronchitic symptoms and wheeze.

Psychosocial factors and multiple health risk behaviors among early adolescents: a latent profile analysis.

Early adolescence is a pivotal developmental period when multiple health risk behaviors, such as obesity and substance use, are often established. Several psychosocial factors, often considered traits, have been independently associated with these increases, including executive function (EF), mindfulness disposition (MD), perceived stress, distress tolerance (DT), and anhedonia. However, these factors have not been evaluated for their conjoint relationships to determine whether different patterns may signal greater or lesser risk for obesity and substance use, and whether the same patterns relate to obesity and substance use in the same ways (same magnitude of risk). To evaluate these patterns, a latent profile analysis was conducted, resulting in a three-profile model. Profile 1 (8% of sample) was characterized by the lowest levels of EF, MD, DT and highest levels of stress and anhedonia, profile 2 (44%) intermediate levels, and profile 3 (48%) the highest levels of EF, MD, DT and lowest levels of stress and anhedonia. Youth classified to profile 1 reported significantly greater levels of both obesogenic and substance use behaviors relative to other profiles. Findings suggest that adolescents engaging in obesogenic and substance use behaviors may share common profiles of psychosocial risk.