Single, Dual, and Triple Use of Cigarettes, e-Cigarettes, and Snus among Adolescents in the Nordic Countries

New tobacco and nicotine products have emerged on the market in recent years. Most research has concerned only one product at a time, usually e-cigarettes, while little is known about the multiple use of tobacco and nicotine products among adolescents. We examined single, dual, and triple use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and snus among Nordic adolescents, using data of 15–16-year-olds (n = 16,125) from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) collected in 2015 and 2019 from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands. Country-specific lifetime use of any of these products ranged between 40% and 50%, and current use between 17% and 31%. Cigarettes were the most common product in all countries except for Iceland, where e-cigarettes were remarkably more common. The proportion of dual and triple users was unexpectedly high among both experimental (24%–49%) and current users (31–42%). Triple use was less common than dual use. The users’ patterns varied somewhat between the countries, and Iceland differed substantially from the other countries, with a high proportion of single e-cigarette users. More knowledge on the patterns of multiple use of tobacco and nicotine products and on the potential risk and protective factors is needed for targeted intervention and prevention efforts.

Enacting Safety and Omitting Gender: Australian Human Rights Scrutiny Processes Concerning Alcohol and Other Drug Laws

Global momentum for drug law reform is building. But how might such reform be achieved? Many argue that human rights offer a possible normative framework for guiding such reform. There has been very little research on whether human rights processes can actually achieve such aims, however. This paper responds to this knowledge gap. It explores how one human rights mechanism—the “parliamentary rights scrutiny process”—deals with alcohol and other drugs. We consider how four Australian parliaments scrutinized proposed new laws that would deal with alcohol and other drugs for their human rights “compatibility.” We find that laws that would limit the rights of people who use alcohol and other drugs were routinely seen as justifiable on the basis that alcohol and other drugs were inherently “unsafe.” Crucially, safety was conceptualized in a gender-neutral way, without regard to the potential role of gender, including specific masculinities, in the production of phenomena such as family violence and sexual violence and other public safety problems. Instead, such problems were regularly constituted as consequences, simply, of alcohol or other drug consumption. In making this argument, we build on the pioneering work of David Moore and colleagues (e.g., 2020). Their work asks important questions about how the causes of violence are constituted across different settings, including research and policy. Drawing on ideas from scholars such as Carol Bacchi and John Law, they identify “gendering practices” and “collateral realities” in research and policy on violence, in which the role of men and masculinities are routinely obscured, displaced or rendered invisible. We find similar problems underway within human rights law. In highlighting these gendering practices and collateral realities, we aim to draw attention to the limitations of some human rights processes and the need for more work in this area.

Sexual Assault Myths Acceptance in University Campus: Construction and Validation of a Scale

The study related to the myths of rape has been carried out since the 1980s at different scales. However, the interaction between the acceptance of these rape myths (myths related to sexual abuse) and the nightlife scene—where alcohol consumption becomes the epicenter of this particular context—has not been specifically evaluated. In this work, a questionnaire has been developed considering different scales. It has been tested online in a population of 367 first-year undergraduate students at the University of Alcalá (Spain). The results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, as well as the reliability ones, indicate the adequacy of the scale construction and validation process for the university student population. In addition, the results obtained, in line with the specialized literature, indicate that the consumption of alcohol and other drugs appear as justifying elements of sexual violence, exonerating the aggressors and perpetrating the victim.

Money used in gaming is associated with problem gambling: Results of the ESPAD 2019 Finland

Background and aims The convergence of gaming and gambling may pose a risk for adolescents. Thus, it is important to find out how these behaviours are associated with other addictive behaviours in order to develop efficient preventive measures for youth. The aim of this study was to examine 1) whether problematic gaming and money used for gaming activities are risk factors for gambling, and 2) what kind of impact adolescents’ substance use along with other factors related to friends and parents have on this association. Methods The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs data, 2019 of Finnish adolescents aged 15 to 16 (N = 4595). Cross-tabulations with Rao-Scott’s chisquare tests were applied to study the associations of the background factors with gambling in the past 12 months. A multinomial logistic regression model was fitted for the outcome variable (gambling in the past 12 months) adjusted for all independent and background variables. Results Problematic gaming alone was not associated with gambling participation, whereas using money for digital games increased the risk of gambling. Boys gamble more than girls. The use of alcohol and drugs increased the risk of gambling. Parental monitoring reduced the risk of gambling, whereas hanging around weekly with friends increased the risk. Discussion and conclusions Using money on gaming sites may put some adolescents at risk of developing problems with either gaming or gambling. The link between using money in digital games and gambling participation calls for preventive measures, intervention and regulatory acts.

Friends and family matter Most: a trend analysis of increasing e-cigarette use among Irish teenagers and socio-demographic, personal, peer and familial associations

Background E-cigarette ever-use and current-use among teenagers has increased worldwide, including in Ireland. Methods We use data from two Irish waves (2015, 2019) of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) to investigate gender and teenage e-cigarette use (n = 3421 16-year-olds). Using chi-square analyses, we report changes in e-cigarette ever-use, current-use, and associated variables. Using multivariable logistic regression, we analyse the increase in e-cigarette use and socio-demographic, personal, peer and familial associations, focusing on gender differences. Results E-cigarette ever-use increased from 23% in 2015 to 37% in 2019, and current-use from 10 to 18%. Compared with 2015, the odds in 2019, of becoming both an e-cigarette ever-user and current-user, were significantly higher for girls than boys (ever-use: AOR 2.67 vs 2.04; current-use: AOR 3.11 vs 1.96). Smoking and e-cigarette use are linked but never-smokers who try e-cigarettes rose significantly from 33 to 67% and those using e-cigarettes to quit smoking decreased significantly from 17 to 3%. Almost two-thirds of respondents (66%) in 2019 said that their reason for trying e-cigarettes was “out of curiosity”. Peer smoking is significantly associated with likelihood of e-cigarette ever-use (AOR 6.52) and current-use (AOR 5.45). If “Most/All friends smoke”, odds were significantly higher for boys than for girls (ever-use AOR 7.07 vs 6.23; current-use AOR 5.90 vs 5.31). Less parental monitoring is significantly associated with greater e-cigarette ever-use (AOR 3.96) and current-use (4.48), and having parents who usually don’t know where their child is on Saturday nights was also associated with significantly higher odds for boys than for girls (ever-use AOR 5.42 vs 3.33; current-use AOR 5.50 vs 3.50). Conclusion Respondents had significantly higher odds of being e-cigarette ever- and current-users in 2019 compared with 2015. Use is higher among boys but girls are increasingly at risk. Two-thirds had never smoked cigarettes at first e-cigarette use; two-thirds used out of curiosity but few (3%) for smoking cessation. The most prominent risk factors for e-cigarette use were peer- and parent-related, especially so for boys. Interventions that take account of friend and family influences may provide mechanisms for preventing an increasing risk of nicotine addiction.

A família do usuário de álcool e outras drogas nos serviços de saúde: revisão integrativa / The family of users of alcohol and other drugs in health services: an integrative review

Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar como acontece o envolvimento da família do usuário de álcool e outras drogas no tratamento. Por meio de uma revisão integrativa de literatura, a partir das bases de dados Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), Scielo e Web Of Science, selecionou-se artigos nacionais e internacionais, o que resultou em 44 estudos elegíveis. Empregou-se o Software StArt para a coleta e análise de dados, que foram posteriormente processados no IRaMuTeQ. Com a análise de classificação hierárquica descendente (CHD) percebeu-se a emergência de duas categorias: a presença da família nos serviços de tratamento; e o relacionamento familiar no tratamento e impacto das intervenções familiares. As famílias se mostraram envolvidas nos serviços de saúde, sendo importante fonte de apoio no tratamento. Constatou-se a necessidade de ações voltadas a elas.

Changes in Alcoholic Beverage Choice and Risky Drinking among Adolescents in Europe 1999–2019

This paper explores trends in beverage preference in adolescents, identifies related regional differences, and examines cluster differences in key drinking measures. Data were obtained from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), covering 24 European countries between 1999 and 2019. Trends in the distribution of alcoholic beverages on the participants’ most recent drinking occasion were analysed by sex and country using fractional multinomial logit regression. Clusters of countries based on trends and predicted beverage proportions were compared regarding the prevalence of drinkers, mean alcohol volume and prevalence of heavy drinking. Four distinct clusters each among girls and boys emerged. Among girls, there was not one type of beverage that was preferred across clusters, but the proportion of cider/alcopops strongly increased over time in most clusters. Among boys, the proportion of beer decreased, but was dominant across time in all clusters. Only northern European countries formed a geographically defined region with the highest prevalence of heavy drinking and average alcohol volume in both genders. Adolescent beverage preferences are associated with mean alcohol volume and heavy drinking at a country-level. Future approaches to drinking cultures need to take subpopulations such as adolescents into account.

O Estudo Sobre de Drogas Lícitas e Ilícitas com Alunos do Ensino Médio em uma Escola Pública no Município de Humaitá-AM

Resumo O ambiente escolar é um promissor de conhecimentos, vivências e experiências, em que os estudantes são capazes de socializar com o todo o corpo escolar, além de adquirir um olhar e conhecimento crítico. Dessa forma, o presente artigo foi realizado no Centro de Educação em Tempo Integral (CETI) em Humaitá – AM. Buscou-se, através da sua realização, expor aos estudantes do Ensino Médio sobre a prevenção do uso drogas na escola, em que os mesmos puderam compreender e entender melhor sobre os efeitos biológicos e químicos no organismo. O artigo está pautado na proposta educativa contra o uso das drogas, por meio de sensibilizar os estudantes, bem como a comunidade do entorno da escola, utilizando ferramentas pedagógicas durante a sua execução. Por meio da sua realização se pôde observar que a curiosidade natural dos estudantes é um dos fatores de maior influência na experimentação de álcool e outras drogas. Essa curiosidade o faz buscar novas sensações e o efeito das drogas vai ao encontro disto, proporcionando prazer momentâneo. Diante dos fatos observados nas atividades, verificou-se que os alunos mostraram interesse pelas atividades realizadas, notando que os mesmos estavam concentrados na explicação do conteúdo ministrado. Palavras-chave: Aprendizagem. Adolescência. Sociedade. AbstractThe school environment is a promising place for knowledge, experiences and living, where students are able to socialize with the entire school body in addition to acquiring a critical look and knowledge. This article was carried out at the Full Time Education Center (CETI) in Humaitá - AM. Through its realization, it was sought to expose high school students about the drug use prevention at school, where they could better understand the biological and chemical effects on the body. The article is based on the educational proposal against the use of drugs by sensitizing students as well as the community around the school using pedagogical tools during their execution. Through its realization, it was observed that the students' natural curiosity is one of the factors of greatest influence in the experimentation of alcohol and other drugs. This curiosity makes him or her search for new sensations and the effect of drugs goes against this, providing momentary pleasure. In view of the facts observed in the activities, it was found that the students showed a good interest in the activities carried out, realizing that they were quite concentrated in explaining the content taught. Keywords: Learning. Adolescence. Society.

Adolescent alcohol use in Estonia compared with Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden: results from cross-sectional surveys, 2003–2015

ObjectivesThe aims of the study were (1) to describe trends in the prevalence of monthly alcohol use from 2003 to 2015 and (2) to analyse the associations between alcohol use and family-related and school-related factors, risk behaviours and perceived alcohol availability in Estonia compared with Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden.MethodsThe study used nationally representative data of 15–16-year-old adolescents from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs. Data from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden collected in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 were utilised (n=57 779). The prevalence of monthly alcohol use including light and strong alcohol use was calculated for each study year. A χ2 test for trend was used to evaluate statistically significant changes in alcohol use over the study period. A multilevel logistic regression analysis was used for assessing the association between alcohol use and explanatory factors. Marginal ORs with 95% CIs for each country were calculated.ResultsMonthly alcohol use decreased significantly among boys and girls in all countries from 2003 to 2015. In 2015, the prevalence of monthly alcohol use among boys was 36.1% in Estonia, 44.3% in Latvia, 32.4% in Lithuania, 32.3% in Finland and 22.4% in Sweden. Among girls, it was 39.1%, 45.9%, 35.6%, 31.8% and 29.1%, respectively. In all countries, higher odds of monthly alcohol use were observed among adolescents who skipped school, smoked cigarettes, used cannabis, perceived alcohol to be easy to access and had parents who did not know always/often about their child’s whereabouts on Saturday nights. Compared with Estonia, associations between alcohol use and explanatory factors were similar in Latvia and Lithuania but different in Finland and Sweden.ConclusionResults of cross-national comparison of alcohol use and explanatory factors could be effectively used to further decrease alcohol use among adolescents.