US: Adolescents With Mental Health Problems At Higher Risk For E-cigarette Use

Source from:  2 Minute Medicine 06/04/2019

1. High rates of externalizing mental health problems among adolescents were strongly associated with initiation of e-cigarette use, combustible cigarette use, and dual use at one year-follow up.

2. Internalizing problems were associated with initiation of e-cigarette use, but not with combustible cigarette use or dual use.

Study Rundown: Mental health disorders have been associated with increased combustible cigarette use among adolescents and adults. Less is known about the association between these disorders and e-cigarette use, which has recently emerged as a major public health concern. In this prospective cohort study, researchers used interview data to compare relative risk for initiation of e-cigarette and/or combustible cigarette use among adolescents with varying levels of externalizing and internalizing mental health problems. High externalizing problems were associated with a 2- to 6-fold higher relative risk of initiating e-cigarette or combustible cigarette use at 1-year follow-up, after adjustment for demographic factors and other substance use. Internalizing problems were associated with higher risk for initiation of e-cigarette use, but not with combustible cigarette or dual use.

These findings are limited by interview data that did not distinguish between experimental and sustained use. Furthermore, a screening rather than diagnostic tool was used to measure mental health problems. Nonetheless, the study is strengthened by its prospective, nationally-representative sample examining e-cigarette use in youth. For physicians, these findings highlight the importance of developing initiatives to prevent e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use among youth with mental health problems.  Enditems