Multiple tobacco product use among young adult bar patrons in New Mexico

Introduction:
This text is a research article that examines the use of multiple tobacco products among young adult bar patrons in the context of a bar-based intervention to decrease cigarette smoking. The study aims to identify the use of other tobacco products among young adults and describes the characteristics of multiple product users. The article also explores the correlates of using other tobacco products and the association between attitudes about secondhand smoke and the tobacco industry with use of electronic cigarettes and hookah.

Key Points:

* The study used cross-sectional surveys collected from young adult bar patrons in Albuquerque, New Mexico over two periods: March-December 2011 and December 2012-December 2013.
* The study found that most cigarette smokers reported currently using at least one other tobacco product.
* The most common additional tobacco products used were electronic cigarettes and hookah.
* Among nonsmokers, the most common product used was hookah, followed by electronic cigarettes, cigarillo, dip, and snus.
* Male sex and past-30 day binge drinking were significant correlates of using other tobacco products among both smokers and nonsmokers.
* Strongly believing that secondhand smoke is harmful was associated with decreased odds of using other tobacco products in smokers.
* The study also found that nonsmokers had decreased odds of both current electronic cigarette use and current hookah use.

Main Message:
The study highlights the high prevalence of multiple tobacco product use among young adult bar patrons and the importance of addressing the use of all tobacco products in public health interventions. The study also emphasizes the need to educate young adults about the risk of nicotine addiction and the limited but emerging scientific data on health effects and regulation of electronic cigarettes. The study suggests that bars are important venues for interventions addressing both smoking and other tobacco products and that public health officials, policymakers, and clinicians should address young adult tobacco use, including other tobacco products.

Kalkhoran, Sara, James L. Padilla, Torsten B. Neilands, and Pamela M. Ling. “Multiple Tobacco Product Use among Young Adult Bar Patrons in New Mexico.” Preventive Medicine 83 (February 2016): 16–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.11.024.