E-Cigarette Use among adult Primary Care Patients: Results from a Multisite Study.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a study examining the relationship between e-cigarette use and nicotine dependence among primary care patients. The study also explores the association between e-cigarette use and other substance use disorders. The findings of this study have important implications for regulatory policies related to e-cigarette use.

Key Points:

* The study was a cross-sectional analysis of data from a multisite clinical trial, the National Drug abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network's Tobacco, alcohol, Prescription medications, and other Substance (TaPS) Tool study.
* The study sample consisted of 2000 adult primary care patients recruited from five clinics in the Eastern USa.
* The study found that e-cigarette use was associated with increased odds of nicotine dependence and tobacco use disorder among primary care patients who were past 3-month tobacco users.
* E-cigarette use was also associated with higher severity levels of nicotine dependence or tobacco use disorder.
* The study also found that e-cigarette users were more likely to report recent nonmedical use and past-year disorder of cannabis and other drugs.
* The study controlled for demographics, past 3-month substance use, and study site.
* The study had limitations, including the reliance on self-reported data, the lack of detailed patterns of e-cigarette use, and the potential bias towards underestimation due to the high overall prevalence of e-cigarette use among whites.

Main Message:
The findings of this study highlight the importance of regulatory policies related to e-cigarette use. E-cigarette use is associated with increased odds of nicotine dependence and tobacco use disorder among primary care patients who are past 3-month tobacco users. Moreover, e-cigarette use is associated with higher severity levels of nicotine dependence or tobacco use disorder. These findings suggest that e-cigarette use may contribute to the development and maintenance of nicotine dependence and tobacco use disorder, and that regulatory policies should reflect this risk. additionally, the study found that e-cigarette users were more likely to report recent nonmedical use and past-year disorder of cannabis and other drugs, suggesting that e-cigarette use may be associated with a broader, underlying profile of shared risk factors for substance use. Further research is needed to better understand the nature of these relationships and to inform prevention and intervention efforts.

John WS, Grover K, Greenblatt Lh, Schwartz RP, Wu LT. E-Cigarette Use among adult Primary Care Patients: Results from a Multisite Study. Journal of general internal medicine. 2020;35(1):268-275. doi:10.1007/s11606-019-05488-4