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To examine the association between fraternity/sorority membership and athlete status with tobacco use by tobacco product type. Participants: Undergraduate college students who participated in the Spring 2017 National College Health Assessment-II Survey (n = 47,821). Methods: Prevalence of current (past-30 day) cigarette smoking, waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS), and e-cigarette (ECIG) use was examined. Logistic regressions examined associations between fraternity/sorority membership and participation in collegiate athletics with tobacco use. Results: Fraternity/sorority members had the highest current use rates for cigarettes, waterpipe tobacco, and ECIGs and were nearly twice as likely to report cigarette smoking, WTS, and ECIG use relative to non-fraternity/sorority members. Relative to non-varsity athletes, varsity athletes were less likely to report cigarette smoking and WTS, but not ECIG use. Conclusions: Fraternity/sorority members appear to be at risk for use of multiple tobacco products. Varsity athlete status may be protective for some tobacco products, but does not appear no for ECIG use. ECIGs may appeal to groups typically at low risk for other tobacco products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we explore the context and determinants of pod-mod electronic cigarette (ECIG) use among college students aged 18 to 24 in the United States. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 55 students (M age = 20 years, 56% female, 65% White) on three campuses in the Northwest, Midwest, and Southeast. We performed a thematic analysis. Students described ECIG use by peers, increased ECIG exposure and prevalence in college, and school-related stress as reasons for vaping. Pod-mod features such as convenience, design, easy concealment, and flavors made vaping more appealing. Negative aspects of vaping included addiction, cost, and possible health consequences. Most viewed vaping as a college behavior and intended to quit after graduation. Our results show that the college environment plays a major role in young adult ECIG use. These findings can inform the development of targeted interventions to prevent and control uptake of ECIGs by young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Electronic cigarette (ECIG) use and changes in cigarette smoking status may be influenced by self-reported reasons for using ECIGs.Methods: We analyzed adult current and former cigarette smokers who were also current or former ECIG users at wave 1 (n = 3044) using wave 1 and wave 2 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study data (2013-2015). Prevalence of reporting 13 reasons for ECIG use at wave 1 was examined and weighted logistic regressions were conducted predicting smoking status changes from wave 1 to wave 2.Results: Reasons for ECIG use ranged from 18.1% (people in the media or public figures use them) to 82.5% (they might be less harmful to people around me than cigarettes). From wave 1 to wave 2, 27.2% of former smokers (n = 249) became current smokers and 11.6% of current smokers (n = 246) became former smokers. Among wave 1 former smokers, using ECIGs because of the availability of flavors (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.39-0.85) or because they don't smell (AOR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.42-0.97) was associated with lower odds of relapse to smoking, but using ECIGs because using them helps people quit smoking (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.01-2.38) was associated with greater odds of relapse. Among wave 1 current smokers, using ECIGs because they can be used where smoking is not allowed (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.38-0.85) was associated with reduced odds of quitting cigarettes.Conclusions: Some reasons for ECIG use are associated with changes in self-reported smoking status. Researchers should examine ECIG user characteristics when assessing associations between ECIG use and smoking status transitions.Implications: Given that certain reasons for ECIG use, such as using ECIGs in locations are where smoking is not allowed, may inhibit smoking reduction, policies may be developed to prevent ECIG use in locations where smoking is banned. In addition, because certain reasons for ECIG use may aid in relapse prevention, such as availability of desired flavors, efforts should be made to identify ECIG device characteristics that are appealing to smokers but not youth or nontobacco users. These results provide support for future research on reasons for ECIG use to inform regulatory policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the dangers associated with hookah tobacco smoking, use and popularity in the United States among young adults continue to increase. While quantitative studies have assessed users' attitudes toward hookah, qualitative research can provide a more in-depth description of positive and negative attitudes and beliefs associated with hookah use.Objectives: To determine outcome expectancies associated with hookah use among young adults.Methods: We conducted six focus groups in 2013 to identify outcome expectancies associated with hookah use. Participants (N= 40) were young adults aged 18–23 who reported hookah use in the past three months. Using Outcome Expectancy Theory perspective, we posed the question “Hookah smoking is _______?” to elicit words or phrases that users associate with hookah use.Results: Over 75% of the users' hookah use outcome expectancies were positive, including associating hookah smoking with relaxation and a social experience. Content analysis of the words engendered six themes. These themes includedSocial Appeal, Physical Attractiveness, Pleasant Smoke, Comparison to Cigarettes, Relaxation, andDeterrents. Fewer negative hookah use expectancy words and phrases were identified, but included “tar” and “cough.”Conclusions: The findings suggest that participants lacked basic knowledge about hookah tobacco smoking, had misconceptions about its danger, and had many positive associations with hookah use. Incorporating components addressing positive hookah expectancies may improve the efficacy of established and new hookah use prevention and cessation interventions and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: Students affiliated with Greek fraternities/sororities are at greater risk for experiencing negative alcohol-related consequences. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) appear to decrease these consequences; however, these strategies have yet to be examined specifically with US college fraternity/sorority populations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between PBS and negative alcohol-related outcomes among fraternity/sorority members. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of 18 354 US college students (65.3% female) between the ages of 18 and 25 who participated in the Fall 2010 National College Health Assessment-II survey. Using adjusted logistic regression models, we predicted the odds of drinking behaviors, 11 PBS, and 9 negative alcohol-related consequences based on fraternity/sorority membership status. Results: Compared to non-fraternity/sorority members, fraternity/sorority members were more likely to report using all but two PBS examined in the study. Additionally, fraternity/sorority members were more likely to report binge drinking, driving after drinking, and experiencing negative consequences of alcohol use. Conclusions: These findings indicate PBS alone may be insufficient for preventing negative outcomes associated with drinking in high-risk groups. Future research should examine if PBS combined with other alcohol use intervention strategies among fraternity/sorority members are more effective at preventing negative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how traditional risky drinking indicators, such as binge drinking, are inefficient when identifying college students who are in need of alcohol-related services. Methods: Using data collected from the 2010 National College Health Assessment II (NCHA-II), the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of binge drinking was analyzed relative to experiencing negative alcohol-related consequences in the previous 12 months. Results: Despite a considerable mathematical advantage, binge drinking demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.80 and a specificity of 0.69. Additionally, more than 56% of the sample who were identified as binge drinkers did not experience a major negative consequence in the previous 12 months. Conclusions: Risky drinking indicators constructed solely of frequency, quantity and duration items have a limited capacity to discriminate at-risk college drinkers from the general student body. New indicators comprised of novel drinking behaviors are necessary to properly identify students at high risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulatory oversight over electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) includes access restriction for persons <21 years of age and flavor restrictions for "cartridge-based" products. Despite the restrictions, consumption by US youth perseveres. Studies on youth e-cig use are limited by the reliability and accuracy of self-reports. As an alternative to self-reports, the current study examined nicotine, cannabinoid, and unlabeled e-cigs and other vaping products confiscated from Virginia public schools to characterize trends among students. Findings highlight a shift from JUUL and pod-based products to single use disposable e-cigs following the FDA flavor restrictions on cartridge-based e-cigs. Chemical analysis of e-liquids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified a wide variety of flavorants and an increase in the prevalence of synthetic coolants. Most confiscated products were nicotine salt formulations, but the prevalence of cannabinoid-based vaping products increased. The popularity of flavored disposable e-cigs highlights the need for further restrictions to reduce youth consumption. The increasing use of synthetic coolants instead of menthol may suggest that manufacturers are employing tactics to bypass regulations. Continued youth access to e-cigs and the abundance of cannabinoid-based products is problematic from health and safety perspectives. Continued research incorporating confiscated product analysis can be used to understand youth access to vaping products and evolutions in manufacturing practices., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site–for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: A social justice framework can be used to inform healthy equity-focused research, and operationalizing social justice can inform strategic planning for research and practice models. This study aimed to develop a working definition of social justice based on input from a diverse group of collaborators to better inform the work conducted within the Center for Research, Health, and Social Justice., Methods: A concept mapping study was conducted from March to May 2022. A prompt designed to elicit social justice themes was developed (phase 1). At a study website, participants brainstormed statements that represented their definition of social justice (phase 2). Participants then sorted statements based on similarity and rated statements on importance (phase 3). Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to identify nonoverlapping thematic clusters of statements (phase 4). Models were reviewed for best fit, and clusters were assigned names based on theme (phase 5)., Results: Participants ( n = 49) generated 52 unique statements that were sorted into 5 clusters describing social justice themes. Clusters included (1) Empathy, Awareness, and Understanding ( n = 11); (2) Education and Systems Change ( n = 10); (3) Policy Design and Implementation ( n = 9); (4) Equity and Leveling the Playing Field ( n = 11); and (5) Access to Services and Fair Living Standard ( n = 11). High mean cluster ratings ranging from 5.22 to 6.02 out of 7 indicated all clusters were rated as being very important aspects of social justice., Conclusions: These data can guide the restructuring of research ecosystems that help eliminate race- and place-based health disparities., (© Eric K. Soule et al., 2024; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

Introduction: Policies limiting electronic cigarette (ECIG) device and liquid characteristics have been considered to prevent dependence potential and youth product appeal. "Open-system" ECIGs allow people to adjust device and liquid characteristics, which may undermine these policies. This study examined anticipated reactions to a policy prohibiting the sale of open-system ECIG devices in the United States using concept mapping., Methods: In 2020, adults who reported ECIG use in the past 30 days (n = 70; 45.1% women; mean age = 33.0, SD = 10.6) recruited from a research registry of individuals from across the United States provided statements into a shared list that completed a prompt: "If open-system vaping devices were no longer sold in the US and only closed-system vaping devices were available, what is a specific reaction or response you would have?" at a study website. Participants rated statements (1-7) on how true the statements were for them. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analyses were used to identify thematic clusters. Mean ratings of statements were calculated and compared based on the type of ECIG used and current cigarette smoking status., Results: Participants generated 85 unique statements. The analysis identified eight themes that were organized into two broad groups. The first group of five clusters described behavioral responses to the hypothetical policy (Loopholes, Switch to Closed-System ECIGs, Legal Approaches to Use Open-System ECIGs, ECIG Use Cessation, Switch to non-ECIG Products). The second group of three clusters described psychological responses to the hypothetical policy (Closed-System ECIG Cons, Psychological Responses, Policy Outcome Concerns)., Conclusions: While a ban on open-system ECIG devices may have positive impacts on public health, policy loopholes, and consumer behaviors may undermine the policy. Efforts to support policy enforcement could increase policy effectiveness., Implications: Open-system electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) that allow people who use ECIGs to modify ECIG device and liquid characteristics may limit the effectiveness of policies that establish product standards which attempt to limit nicotine delivery and flavor content in ECIG liquids. This study identified predicted reactions to a hypothetical policy prohibiting the sale of open-system ECIGs in the United States. Results suggest that people who use ECIGs may view a policy prohibiting open-system ECIGs unfavorably, but would be willing to use closed-system ECIGs. However, many ECIG users may attempt to find loopholes in the policy or alternative sources to purchase open-system ECIGs if open-systems were banned. Future research should identify strategies for tobacco regulatory policy enforcement to increase effectiveness., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: ES is named on a patent application for a smartphone app that determines electronic cigarette device and liquid characteristics.