Exploring associations between the use of alcohol and marijuana with e-cigarette use in a U.S.A. nationally representative sample of young adults

Introduction:
This text summarizes a research study examining the relationship between the use of alcohol, marijuana, and e-cigarettes among a nationally representative sample of young adults in the United States. The study aims to determine the associations between the dual use of alcohol and marijuana with e-cigarette use.

Key Points:

* The study used data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) survey, which included 9,112 young adults aged 18-24.
* The study measured e-cigarette use as past 30-day use and former experimental use.
* Exposure variables included dual ever use of alcohol and marijuana, exclusive ever use of each substance, and dual current use of alcohol and marijuana, exclusive current use of each substance.
* Covariates included sex, race/ethnicity, education level, household income, and the total number of tobacco products ever used.
* The study found that dual ever use of alcohol and marijuana was significantly associated with past 30-day e-cigarette use and former experimental e-cigarette use.
* Exclusive ever marijuana use was also significantly associated with both outcomes, while exclusive ever alcohol use was only significantly associated with former experimental e-cigarette use.
* Exclusive current marijuana use and dual current use of alcohol and marijuana were significantly associated with past 30-day e-cigarette use, but not former experimental e-cigarette use.
* The study suggests that marijuana users may be an important group to target with intervention programs.

Main Message:
The study provides evidence of the association between the dual use of alcohol and marijuana and e-cigarette use among young adults. The findings suggest that marijuana users, in particular, may represent an important subgroup to target with intervention campaigns since this group exhibited the highest odds of e-cigarette use, above and beyond the dual use of marijuana and alcohol. Strategies to address these substance use behaviors should be comprehensive and aim to reduce the public health burden associated with e-cigarettes.

Bluestein, Meagan, Steven Kelder, and Adriana Pérez. “Exploring Associations between the Use of Alcohol and Marijuana with E-Cigarette Use in a U.S.A. Nationally Representative Sample of Young Adults.” International Journal of Health Sciences 13, no. 1 (2019).