An ecological momentary assessment study to examine covariates and effects of concurrent and simultaneous use of electronic cigarettes and marijuana among college students.

Introduction:
This text summarizes a study that examines the relationship between e-cigarette use and marijuana use among college students. The study uses an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) approach to repeatedly collect behavioral samples from participants in real-time and real-life.

Key Points:

* The study found that e-cigarette users who frequently used marijuana tended to have lower academic performance, be involved in higher-risk use patterns, and have higher levels of e-cigarette dependence, marijuana problems, and respiratory symptoms, compared to infrequent/non-users.
* Marijuana vaping was associated with a higher level of e-cigarette consumption.
* E-cigarette use and marijuana use were both associated with higher levels of positive affect, physiological sensation, and craving for e-cigarettes.
* While marijuana use was linked to a lower level of negative affect, e-cigarette use did not have a significant effect.
* There were no significant interaction effects between e-cigarette and marijuana use on psychological states.
* Certain places and social contexts have been linked to simultaneous use such as private settings and a higher perceived percentage of intoxicated people.
* The literature of tobacco-marijuana co-use was based on cross-sectional survey research that is vulnerable to recall biases, particularly for studying simultaneous use and the associated contexts.

Main Message:
The study found additive effects of e-cigarette and marijuana use, but the hypothesized synergistic effects were not supported. The study highlights the importance of considering the contexts in which e-cigarette and marijuana use occur, as certain places and social situations may be linked to simultaneous use. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing e-cigarette and marijuana use among college students should take into account the potential for additive effects and the role of context in promoting use. Additionally, the study highlights the need for more research on the short-term psychological effects of co-using e-cigarettes and marijuana through the vaping route, as this is an important knowledge gap. Overall, the study underscores the complexity of e-cigarette and marijuana use among college students and the need for a nuanced understanding of the factors that contribute to use.

Buu A, Yang JJ, Ou TS, Kyung Nam J, Suh G, Lin HC. An ecological momentary assessment study to examine covariates and effects of concurrent and simultaneous use of electronic cigarettes and marijuana among college students. Addictive behaviors. 2023;141:107662. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107662