1. An analysis of e-cigarette and polysubstance use patterns of adolescents in Bangkok, Thailand
- Author
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Takuma Ofuchi, Chit Su Tinn, Bee Kim, and Bang-on Thepthien
- Subjects
Health (social science) ,media_common.quotation_subject ,dewey610 ,Poly drug use ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Academic achievement ,e-cigarette ,Diseases of the respiratory system ,Environmental health ,Medicine ,adolescents ,RC254-282 ,media_common ,Drink alcohol ,Multinomial logistic regression ,RC705-779 ,business.industry ,Addiction ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,Thailand ,medicine.disease ,polysubstance use ,Adolescent population ,Substance abuse ,Polysubstance dependence ,business ,dewey360 ,Research Paper - Abstract
Introduction The prevalence of adolescent e-cigarette use has increased markedly in recent years. Specifically, the prevalence of e-cigarette use over the past 30 days was higher than the prevalence of use of other tobacco products. However, there is no definitive data on e-cigarette use among adolescents, including a description of how e-cigarette use is part of a more widespread pattern of substance abuse. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of e-cigarette use in combination with tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana, and the risk of polysubstance use among a sample of Thai adolescents, analyzed by sociodemographic characteristics. Methods Data were extracted from the Bangkok Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BBSS) cross-sectional survey conducted in 2019. The survey used self-reports from a sample of adolescents aged 14-17 years in Bangkok (n=6167). Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the status of poly drug use in combination with e-cigarettes. Results In all, 6.8% of adolescents in this sample reported having used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days. Among the students who used e-cigarettes, the majority (72.0%) reported using other substances along with e-cigarettes, and alcohol was the most common addictive substance used in combination with e-cigarette use. The use of e-cigarettes only and e-cigarettes in combination with other addictive substances (compared to the non-e-cigarette group) tended to be higher among male students, having low academic achievement, having a friend who smokes, being persuaded by a close friend, having ever had sex (OR: 1.48-3.70), and having close friends who drink alcohol (vs none) (OR=3.26). Conclusions Polysubstance use is highly prevalent among adolescents who use e-cigarettes. There should be extensive screening for e-cigarette consumption, including use of other addictive substances, especially alcohol. Early and comprehensive prevention efforts to reduce the use of e-cigarettes and other addictive substances can have a huge impact on the health of the adolescent population.
- Published
- 2021
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