Nicotine and Tobacco Product Use and Dependence Symptoms Among US Adolescents and Adults: Differences by Age, Sex, and Sexual Identity.

Introduction:
This text provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between sexual identity and nicotine/tobacco product use and dependence symptoms among US adolescents and adults. The study uses data from Wave 4 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) adolescent and adult surveys and examines five nicotine/tobacco use outcomes by sex and sexual identity across four age groups.

Key Points:

* The study found that sexual identity differences in nicotine/tobacco product use and dependence symptoms varied significantly across age groups and by sex.
* For males, sexual identity differences were greatest in middle adulthood, particularly for bisexual males.
* For females, sexual identity differences were persistent from adolescence through middle adulthood.
* The study found significant differences in nicotine dependence symptoms when comparing gay/lesbian and bisexual females across multiple age groups.
* The study also found that many sexual minorities not only have higher risk for tobacco and nicotine product use but also use significantly more tobacco products and have higher nicotine dependence symptom scores.
* The study controlled for past 30-day alcohol and marijuana use and internalizing symptoms to determine their impact on the associations between sexual identity and tobacco use.
* The main tables present results for regression analyses using heterosexual identity as the reference, with supplemental analyses conducted using lesbian/gay identity as the reference.

Main Message:
The study's findings highlight the importance of considering age and sex when examining the relationship between sexual identity and nicotine/tobacco product use and dependence symptoms. The results demonstrate age-varying risk among sexual minorities, which has important implications for tobacco prevention and cessation efforts. The study suggests that implementing nicotine and tobacco prevention and cessation strategies that consider the unique needs of sexual minority adolescents and adults is crucial. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of examining beyond single tobacco products when studying nicotine/tobacco differences related to sexual identity and in examining differences by age group.

Evans-Polce RJ, Veliz P, Kcomt L, Boyd CJ, McCabe SE. Nicotine and Tobacco Product Use and Dependence Symptoms Among US Adolescents and Adults: Differences by Age, Sex, and Sexual Identity. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2021;23(12):2065-2074. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntab127