The Relationship Between Subjective Experiences During First Use of Tobacco and Cannabis and the Effect of the Substance Experienced First

Abstract

Taken together, these results indicate that similar subjective experiences were associated with the first use of tobacco and cannabis. Also, the use of cannabis before tobacco, which occurred in only a minority of users, had the potential to enhance the effects of initial tobacco use.

Associations Between Initial Subjective Experiences with Tobacco and Self-Reported Recent Use in Young Adulthood

“…In line with previous study findings (Baggio et al, 2014; DiFranza et al, 2004; O. F. Pomerleau et al, 1993), our study provides support for the relationship between initial subjective experiences and recent tobacco use.…”

“…Although not explicitly addressed in the current study, unmeasured behavioral, social, and environmental factors might also play a role in shaping initial reactions to nicotine and the subsequent adoption of regular use of tobacco (Okoli, Richardson, & Johnson, 2008). Social influences of peers and family may have an effect on initial subjective experiences with tobacco use (Baggio et al, 2014), as individuals with higher levels of smoke exposure from peers and family members are more likely to report positive initial subjective experiences (Okoli et al, 2008). Exposure to peer and family member smoking is also associated with individual reports of feeling: dizzy, relaxed, good, and high upon initial use of tobacco.…”

Associations of anxiety sensitivity and emotional symptoms with the subjective effects of alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis in adolescents

“…Theoretically, early negative subjective drug effects should exert a protective effect against continued drug use, but the literature has not found consistent evidence to support this. Negative initial reactions to tobacco and cannabis have been found to increase odds of later cannabis abuse/dependence (Agrawal, et al, 2014), but other studies found no effect on odds of becoming a regular smoker (Baggio, et al, 2014; Zabor, et al, 2013) or future or lifetime use of cannabis (Davidson & Schenk, 1994). Studies have also found that negative alcohol outcome expectancies increase as alcohol consumption increases (Gadon, Bruce, McConnochie, & Jones, 2004) and may be important for alcohol treatment outcomes (Jones & McMahon, 1994, 1996).…”

“…Following from positive reinforcement models of substance use risk (MacKillop & de Wit, 2013), individuals who have more positive (e.g., relaxation, pleasant) early experiences with alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis are more likely to continue use of the substance and later develop addiction (Agrawal, Madden, Bucholz, Heath, & Lynskey, 2014; Baggio, et al, 2014; Buchmann, et al, 2013; Zabor, et al, 2013). Theoretically, early negative subjective drug effects should exert a protective effect against continued drug use, but the literature has not found consistent evidence to support this.…”

Differences in Subjective Experiences to First Use of Menthol and Nonmenthol Cigarettes in a National Sample of Young Adult Cigarette Smokers

“…11,14 While the research is more robust for the association between pleasant experiences and future smoking behavior, the extent to which unpleasant experiences predict smoking outcomes is equivocal due to differences in samples, varied measurement of subjective response items, and individual differences in interpretation of subjective responses. For example, Urbán 11 found that initial unpleasant experiences were negatively associated with regular cigarette use in a sample of high school students whereas Baggio et al 15 found a positive association between initial unpleasant experiences and past 12-month cigarette use in a sample of young men. Further, with respect to individual differences in interpretation of sensory experiences from smoking, feeling a "buzz" or "rush" may be perceived as pleasant for some respondents (eg, those who tend toward sensation seeking) whereas others may interpret these experiences as negative.…”