Background: Given the potential for increased substance use during COVID-19, we examined (1) young adults’ changes in cigarette, e-cigarette, marijuana, and alcohol use from pre- to during COVID-19; and (2) related risk/protective factors. These findings could inform intervention efforts aimed at curbing increases in substance use during periods of societal stress. Methods: We analyzed Wave 3 (W3; September–December 2019) and Wave 4 (W4; March–May 2020) from the Vape shop Advertising, Place characteristics and Effects Surveillance (VAPES), a 2-year, five-wave longitudinal study of young adults across six metropolitan areas. We examined risk/protective factors (i.e. adverse childhood experiences [ACEs], depressive symptoms, resilience) in relation to changes in past 30-day substance use frequency. Results: In this sample (N = 1084, Mage=24.76, SD = 4.70; 51.8% female; 73.6% White; 12.5% Hispanic), W3/W4 past 30-day use prevalence was: 29.1% cigarettes (19.4% increased/26.4% decreased), 36.5% e-cigarettes (23.2% increased/28.6% decreased), 49.4% marijuana (27.2% increased/21.2% decreased), and 84.8% alcohol (32.9% increased/20.7% decreased). Multivariate regressions indicated that, greater increases were predicted by: for e-cigarettes, greater ACEs; and for alcohol, greater depression. Among those with low resilience, predictors included: for e-cigarettes, greater depression; and for marijuana, greater ACEs. Conclusions: Interventions to reduce substance use during societal stressors should target both risk and protective factors, particularly resilience.
The current study examined (1) changes in psychosocial adjustment among adolescents completing two surveys before COVID‐19 and those completing the final survey during COVID‐19 and (2) related risk/protective factors. Participants were 208 US adolescents ( M age = 15.09, SD = 0.50, 48.8% female, 86.1% White; 40.9% COVID group) who completed longitudinal surveys assessing psychosocial adjustment and related risk/protective factors (e.g., emotion regulation, well‐being pursuits). Only adolescents completing Wave 3 during COVID‐19 experienced increases in depressive symptoms, negative affect, and isolation and decreases in positive affect and friendship. Several variables served as risk (i.e., dampening) and protective (i.e., eudaimonic and hedonic motives) factors of these changes. Findings highlight the range of factors that are distinctly associated with negative changes in adolescent adjustment during COVID‐19.
Significance The emergence of heated tobacco products (HTPs) in the US marks a critical time for identifying those most likely to use, particularly among young adults. Methods We analyzed Fall 2019 data from a longitudinal study of young adults (ages 18-34; n=2,375, Mage=24.66±4.68) in 6 US cities, 24.1% of whom used cigarettes and 32.7% e-cigarettes. We assessed HTP awareness, use, and sources, as well as perceived risk, social acceptability, and likelihood of future use. Results In this sample, 9.7% (n=230) heard of HTPs, 3.5% (n=84) ever used them, and 2.4% (n=56) reported past-year purchases (tobacco shops, 66.1%; traditional retailers, 60.7%; online, 39.3%; IQOS specialty stores, 35.7%). In multivariable analyses, having heard of HTPs correlated with being older, male, and current cigarette and e-cigarette users; among those ever hearing of them, using HTPs correlated with being non-Hispanic and current cigarette and e-cigarette users. Greater likelihood of future use correlated with being older, male, sexual minority, non-Hispanic, and current cigarette and e-cigarette users. Among past-month users (n=78), the average number of days used was 5.48 (SD=5.54). Past-month cigarette and e-cigarette users, respectively, who tried HTPs were more likely to report consistent or more frequent use of their respective product than a year ago (p’s<.001). HTPs were perceived as less addictive than cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes, and less harmful and more socially acceptable than other tobacco products except e-cigarettes and hookah. Conclusions The relatively positive perceptions of HTPs and access via various channels underscores potential penetration of HTPs among US young adults.
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