Patterns of Tobacco and Marijuana Use Among Young Adults

Institution:	University of California, San Francisco
Investigator(s):	Danielle Ramo, Ph.D.
Award Cycle:	2009 (Cycle 18)	Grant #: 18FT-0055	Award: $135,000
Subject Area:	Epidemiology
Award Type:	Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards

Abstracts

Initial Award Abstract

Nationally (38.4%) and in California (30.4%), young adults aged 18 to 25 report the highest rate of current cigarette use, and constitute the largest segment of tobacco marketing efforts relative to other age groups. Thus, young adults are an important population to target for understanding risk factors of use and designing effective programs to stop smoking. Marijuana (MJ) use, a risk factor for smoking cigarettes, may help to explain why some young adults have been a challenging population to treat through smoking cessation interventions. The overall goal of the proposed project is to understand how MJ use affects cigarette use and thoughts about use. This information will inform the development of an intervention to treat cigarette and MJ use among young adults.

The primary aims of the proposed project are: 1) To characterize the cigarette use patterns and cessation attempts in young adult smokers who concurrently use MJ (CIG/MJ) compared to those who do not (CIG-only); and 2) To examine differences in smoking-related thoughts between the CIG/MJ and CIG-only groups. We will administer an online survey to at least 1500 young adults recruited through the Internet (e.g., social networking sites, search engines). Young adults who are eligible (age 18-25, read English, currently smoke cigarettes) and give informed consent will complete a 20 minute survey. Those who complete the survey will have a chance to win a raffle prize. We will assess demographic characteristics, cigarette, alcohol, MJ and other drug use, attempts participants have made to quit using cigarettes and MJ, cigarette and MJ dependence symptoms, motivation to quit using cigarettes and MJ, confidence around quitting cigarette and MJ use, expectations about the effects of cigarette and MJ use, and expectations about the use of both cigarettes and MJ simultaneously. Analyses will compare young adult cigarette and MJ users (CIG/MJ) to those who use cigarettes only (CIG-only). Hypotheses are that the CIG/MJ group will: 1a) smoke cigarettes more heavily than the CIG-only group; 1b) be more dependent on cigarettes than the CIG-only group; 2a) have had fewer attempts to quit smoking cigarettes than those in the CIG-only group; 2b) have had shorter attempts to quit smoking cigarettes than those in the CIG-only group; 3) have lower motivation to quit smoking cigarettes than the CIG-only group; and 4) report more positive expectations about the effects of cigarettes than the CIG-only group. Secondary aims are to examine patterns of cigarette and MJ use among groups of people (e.g., gender, ethnicity, where they live) and how cigarettes and MJ are used together. This study will provide valuable information that can be used to develop interventions targeted to reduce smoking behavior in young adults throughout California and the United States.

Publications

Prevalence and Co-use of Marijuana among Young Adult Smokers: An Anonymous Online National Survey.
Periodical: Addiction Science and Clinical Practice			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo DE, Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr: 2012	Vol: 7	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 5

Broad reach and targeted recruitment using Facebook for an online survey of young adult substance use
Periodical: Journal of Medical Internet Research Protocols			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo DE, Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr: 2012	Vol: 14	Nbr: 1	Abs:	Pg: e28

Tobacco and marijuana use among adolescents and young adults: A systematic review of their co-use.
Periodical: Clinical Psychology Review			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo DE, Liu H, Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr: 2012	Vol: 32	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 105-21

Reliability and validity of young adults' anonymous online reports of marijuana use and thoughts about use.
Periodical: Psychology of Addictive Behaviors			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo, DE Liu, H, Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr: 2012	Vol: 26	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 801-811

Marijuana and tobacco co-use in young adults: Patterns and thoughts about use.
Periodical: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo, DE, Delucchi KL, Hall SH, Liu H., Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr: 2013	Vol: 74	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 301-310

Validity and Reliability of the Nicotine and Marijuana Interaction Expectancy (NAMIE) Questionnaire.
Periodical: Drug and Alcohol Dependence			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo, DE, Liu H, Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr:	Vol:	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg:

Prevalence and Co-use of Marijuana among Young Adult Smokers: An Anonymous Online National Survey.
Periodical: Addiction Science and Clinical Practice			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo DE, Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr: 2012	Vol: 7	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 5

Broad reach and targeted recruitment using Facebook for an online survey of young adult substance use
Periodical: Journal of Medical Internet Research Protocols			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo DE, Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr: 2012	Vol: 14	Nbr: 1	Abs:	Pg: e28

Tobacco and marijuana use among adolescents and young adults: A systematic review of their co-use.
Periodical: Clinical Psychology Review			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo DE, Liu H, Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr: 2012	Vol: 32	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 105-21

Reliability and validity of young adults' anonymous online reports of marijuana use and thoughts about use.
Periodical: Psychology of Addictive Behaviors			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo, DE Liu, H, Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr: 2012	Vol: 26	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 801-811

Marijuana and tobacco co-use in young adults: Patterns and thoughts about use.
Periodical: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo, DE, Delucchi KL, Hall SH, Liu H., Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr: 2013	Vol: 74	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 301-310

Validity and Reliability of the Nicotine and Marijuana Interaction Expectancy (NAMIE) Questionnaire.
Periodical: Drug and Alcohol Dependence			Index Medicus:
Authors: Ramo, DE, Liu H, Prochaska JJ.				ART
Yr:	Vol:	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: