Tobacco use among non-elderly adults with and without criminal justice involvement in the past year: United States, 2008–2016

Abstract

BackgroundTobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States and is concentrated among disadvantaged populations, including individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement. However, tobacco use among individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement has been understudied in the United States, and data are needed to inform policy and practice.MethodsWe used data from the 2008–2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (unweighted N = 330,130) to examine trends in tobacco use, categories of tobacco use, characteristics of cigarette use, and health care utilization and tobacco use screening among individuals (aged 18–64) with and without a history of criminal justice involvement in the past year. We used multiple logistic and Poisson regression models with predictive margins to provide adjusted prevalence estimates.ResultsThe weighted sample in each year was, on average, representative of 8,693,171 individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement in the past year and 182,817,228 individuals with no history of criminal justice involvement in the past year. Tobacco use was significantly more common among individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement compared with individuals with no criminal justice involvement, and disparities increased over time (Difference in adjusted relative differences: − 10.2% [95% CI − 17.7 to − 2.7]). In 2016, tobacco use prevalence was more than two times higher among individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement (62.9% [95% CI 59.9–66.0] vs. 27.6% [95% CI 26.9–28.3]). Individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement who smoked reported a significantly earlier age of cigarette initiation, more cigarettes used per day, and higher levels of nicotine dependence and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement were less likely to report an outpatient medical visit in the past year and, among those reporting an outpatient medical visit, were less likely to be asked about tobacco use, but paradoxically, more likely to report being advised to quit.ConclusionsNovel programs and tobacco control policies are needed to address persistently high rates of tobacco use and reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement.

Electronic cigarette use patterns and chronic health conditions among people experiencing homelessness in MN: a statewide survey

“…b Significantly higher rate than combustible only. c Significantly lower rate than none important as those with criminal justice involvement have significant heart and lung disease disparities relative to the general population [26][27][28] due at least in part to high rates of combustible tobacco use [28].…”

“…To our knowledge this is the first study to report criminal justice involvement as a predictor of e-cigarettes use. This is important as those with criminal justice involvement have significant heart and lung disease disparities relative to the general population [ 26 – 28 ] due at least in part to high rates of combustible tobacco use [ 28 ].…”

Public Support for E-Cigarette-related Policies among a Nationally Representative Sample of US Adults

“…For smoking status, we defined "never smokers" as those who never tried a cigarette or who had smoked less than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, "former smokers" as those who smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime but did not smoke a cigarette in the past 30 days, and "current smokers" as those who smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and smoked a cigarette on at least 1 of the past 30 days. 49 For e-cigarette status, we defined "never e-cigarette users" as those who never tried an e-cigarette, "former e-cigarette users" as those who tried an e-cigarette but did not use any e-cigarette product in the past 30 days, and "current e-cigarette users" as those who had used any e-cigarette product on at least 1 of the past 30 days. We assessed e-cigarette harm perceptions using the following 2 items on as scale of 1 (least harmful) to 10 (most harmful): ".…”

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Smoking Cessation Program for Individuals Released From an Urban, Pretrial Jail

“…1 These populations are overrepresented in the US criminallegal system, where smoking rates are 125% higher compared with the general population and contribute to excess morbidity and mortality. 2,3 Although an increasing body of research has focused on opioid use among people involved in the criminal-legal system, 4,5 little attention has been paid to tobacco use and cardiovascular disease, the second leading cause of death among recently incarcerated people. 6 Reducing tobacco use among a population with elevated levels of premature mortality and that frequently uses high-cost health care services could be associated with substantial improvements in health and reductions in health care costs.…”