Association of pleasant sensations at cigarette smoking initiation with subsequent tobacco product use among U.S. adolescents

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research study examining the relationship between pleasant sensations experienced during cigarette smoking initiation and subsequent tobacco product use among US adolescents. The study analyzed data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study and controlled for various factors including age, sex, race/ethnicity, U.S. census region, parental education, harm perception, and parent tobacco product use.

Key Points:

* Adolescents who reported higher unpleasant sensations at cigarette smoking initiation were less likely to report current use of any tobacco product(s).
* Adolescents who reported higher pleasant sensation at cigarette smoking initiation were more likely to report current use of any tobacco product(s).
* The association between pleasant sensations at cigarette smoking initiation and subsequent tobacco product use held true for both combustible and non-combustible tobacco products.
* The study controlled for various factors including age, sex, race/ethnicity, U.S. census region, parental education, harm perception, and parent tobacco product use.
* The study analyzed data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.
* The sample was restricted to those who had ever reported cigarette smoking (n = 1838).
* The overall weighted response was 78.4% for the youth interview.

Main Message:
The study suggests that adolescents who report higher pleasant sensations at cigarette smoking initiation are more likely to use tobacco products. Interventions for smoking education and further surveillance may benefit adolescents who report higher pleasant sensations at cigarette smoking initiation. The study highlights the importance of addressing the subjective experiences of adolescents when it comes to tobacco use and the need for targeted interventions to prevent tobacco use among this population.

Lee, JuHan, Catherine W. Striley, Carlo Custodero, Harold A. Rocha, and Ramzi G. Salloum. “Association of Pleasant Sensations at Cigarette Smoking Initiation with Subsequent Tobacco Product Use among U.S. Adolescents.” Addictive Behaviors 89 (February 2019): 151–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.10.003.