Research News Roundup: October 28, 2021

Journal: SSM – Population Health, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100925.

Author: Kaitlin Shartle

Abstract:

Peers play an influential role in the initiation of smoking during adolescence. However, there has been limited literature examining whether adolescent peers are associated with longer-term patterns of smoking. This study uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine whether age-based trajectories of smoking likelihood from adolescence to adulthood are associated with the number of adolescent friends who smoked and how this association differs by race/ethnicity and gender. Findings using multilevel growth curve models indicate that individuals who have more adolescent friends who smoked have higher probabilities of smoking during adolescence than those with no adolescent smoking friends. As individuals age into adulthood, the association between adolescent friends’ smoking behavior and individual-level smoking begin to dissipate but does not completely disappear. Further analyses show that there are no differences in this association by gender, but there are differences by race/ethnicity. These findings suggest that high school friends continue to be associated with trajectories of smoking even twenty years after high school. These results indicate that anti-smoking campaigns should take a network approach to preventing smoking in adolescence as well as recognize that the same campaign strategy may not work for all groups.

To read the full text of the article, please visit the publisher’s website.

Journal: Preventive Medicine, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106829.

Authors: Juhan Lee & Johannes Thrul

Abstract:

Increasing rates of opioid-related emergency department visits and deaths among adolescents in the United States are a public health concern. Adolescent cigarette smoking may be a risk factor for opioid misuse; though, there is a paucity of research on adolescents’ cigarette smoking and opioid misuse. This study investigates current trends and the association between cigarette smoking and opioid misuse among US adolescents. Using pooled youth samples (ages 12–17) from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 2015–2018 (N = 54,866), we calculated weighted estimates of past-year opioid misuse by cigarette smoking status across years. We further estimated a multivariable logistic regression model to examine the past-year opioid misuse by ever-cigarette-smoking, controlling for sociodemographics and other substance use. While there was a significant reduction in opioid misuse among the entire sample and among never-smokers over time (2.5% in 2015 to 1.9% in 2018), this trend was not significant among ever-smokers (14.2% in 2015 to 11.1% in 2018). Multivariable logistic regression showed ever-smokers (vs. never-smokers) had higher odds of past-year opioid misuse (aOR = 2.01; 95% CI = 1.66, 2.43). Findings suggest that comprehensive tobacco control policies and opioid misuse prevention programs are warranted to curb opioid misuse among adolescents.

To read the full text of the article, please visit the publisher’s website.

Journal: AJOG: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.06.004

Authors: Yitong (Alice) Gao, Marian P. Jarlenski, Qingwen Chen & Elizabeth E. Krans

Abstract:

Pregnant women are at an increased risk of severe morbidity and mortality due to respiratory infections like SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) during pregnancy.1 Those with substance use disorders (SUDs) may be especially vulnerable due to high rates of smoked tobacco, cannabis, and methamphetamine use which adversely affect pulmonary function.2 However, little is known about the differential effects of COVID-19 on pregnant women with and without SUD. Results showed that among 65,009 pregnancies, 2616 (4.0%) had ≥1 SUD diagnosis. Almost half of the pregnant women in the cohort were non-Hispanic White. Pregnant women with an SUD diagnosis were significantly more likely to be younger (30±6 vs 32±5; P<.05). Women without an SUD diagnosis were significantly more likely to be screened for COVID-19 during pregnancy (27% vs 24%; P<.001) than those with an SUD. Overall, 3.4% of pregnant women were diagnosed as having COVID-19, mostly (86%) in the third trimester. The prevalence of a COVID-19 diagnosis was higher among those with an SUD than those without an SUD (5% vs 3%; P<.05). Furthermore, there was a higher percentage of COVID-19–related hospitalizations among pregnant women with an SUD (36%) than those without an SUD (8%) (P<.001). The median length of stay was 1 day longer among those with an SUD (3 vs 2 days; P<.01) than those without an SUD. There were no COVID-19–related deaths reported during pregnancy or postpartum.

To read the full text of the article, please visit the publisher’s website.

Journal: Addiction, 2021, doi: 10.1111/add.15355

Authors: Carillon J. Skrzynski & Kasey G. Creswell

Abstract:

Background and aims: Solitary drinking in adolescents and young adults is associated with greater risk for alcohol problems, but it is unclear whether this association exists in older demographics. The current paper is the first meta-analysis and systematic review, to our knowledge, to determine whether adult solitary drinking is associated with greater risk for alcohol problems.

Methods: PsychINFO, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched following a pre-registered International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) protocol (CRD42019147075) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. Following the methodology used in our recent systematic review and meta-analysis on adolescent/young adult solitary drinking, we systematically reviewed solitary drinking measures/definitions, prevalence rates and associated demographic variables in adults. We then meta-analyzed (using random-effects models) associations between adult solitary drinking and alcohol use/problems, negative affect and negative/positive reinforcement-related variables (e.g. drinking to cope or for enhancement).

Results: Solitary drinking was defined as drinking while physically alone in nearly all studies, but measures varied. Prevalence rates were generally in the 30–40% range, with some exceptions. In general, males were more likely than females to report drinking alone, and married individuals were less likely than unmarried individuals to report drinking alone; racial/ethnic differences were mixed. Meta-analytical results showed significant effects for the associations between solitary drinking and the following factors: alcohol consumption, r = 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.18, 0.33, k = 15, I2 = 97.41; drinking problems, r = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.10, 0.21, k = 14, I2 = 92.70; and negative reinforcement, r = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.14, 0.32, k = 11, I2 = 89.77; but not positive reinforcement, r = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.06, 0.09, k = 8, I2 = 76.18; or negative affect, r = 0.03, 95% CI = −0.02, 0.08, k = 8, I2 = 52.06. Study quality moderated the association between solitary drinking and negative affect (β = −0.07, P < 0.01) such that lower-quality studies were significantly associated with larger effect sizes. Study quality was generally low; the majority of studies were cross-sectional.

Conclusions: Solitary drinking appears to have a small positive association with alcohol problems.

To read the full text of the article, please visit the publisher’s website.