Journal article
Double trouble: Exploring the association between waterpipe tobacco smoking and the nonmedical use of psychoactive prescription drugs among adolescents
Drug and alcohol dependence, Vol.145, pp.217-223
12/01/2014
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.10.020
PMID: 25456333
Abstract
•WTS (waterpipe tobacco smoking) is more prevalent than cigarette smoking•WTS is associated with greater odds of using sedatives/tranquilizer, pain relievers, and sleeping medications non-medically.•Cigarette use is weakly or not associated with non-medical use of sedatives/tranquilizer, pain relievers, and sleeping medications.•Cigarette use is strongly associated with nonmedical use of stimulants.•Cigarette use and WTS not related to non-medical anti-depressant use in this sample.
In youth, both waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) and nonmedical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) are globally growing concerns. This study assesses for the first time the lifetime and past-year associations between WTS and four classes of psychoactive prescription drugs.
Cross-sectional data (2011) on 986 high school students attending public and private high schools in Beirut (Lebanon) was analyzed. Schools were selected using proportionate random cluster sampling from a comprehensive list of schools provided by the Ministry of Education.
Almost half (46%) had tried WTS compared to 25% who had ever tried cigarettes. Lifetime prevalence estimates of NMUPD were: pain relievers (8.2%), sedatives/tranquilizers (5.6%), stimulants (3.5%), antidepressants (2.5%), and sleeping pills (2.3%). WTS was associated with increased odds of sedatives/tranquilizer use (OR=3.22, 95% CI: 1.25, 8.25), pain reliever use (OR=4.31, 95% CI: 2.02, 9.17), and sleeping medication use (OR=8.31, 95% CI: 2.37, 29.20), controlling for sex, age, school type, and other substance use. For cigarettes, the associations were consistently either weaker or non-existent, except with stimulant use (OR=5.29, 95% CI: 1.55, 18.05).
While public health professionals have watched with caution the global prevalence of youth cigarette use–worldwide, an insidious alternative form of tobacco use has grown. Further research is needed to understand the unique risk factors and motives associated with WTS and how these relate to NMUPD in order to inform the development of effective intervention programs and policies that support youth positive health decisions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Double trouble: Exploring the association between waterpipe tobacco smoking and the nonmedical use of psychoactive prescription drugs among adolescents
- Creators
- Leona Zahlan - Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY, USALilian Ghandour - Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Bliss street, Riad el Solh, 11072020 Beirut, LebanonNasser Yassin - Department of Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, PO Box 11-0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, LebanonRima Afifi - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, PO Box 11-0236 Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, LebanonSilvia S Martins - Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Drug and alcohol dependence, Vol.145, pp.217-223
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.10.020
- PMID
- 25456333
- NLM abbreviation
- Drug Alcohol Depend
- ISSN
- 0376-8716
- eISSN
- 1879-0046
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ireland Ltd
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/2014
- Academic Unit
- Injury Prevention Research Center; Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984063128602771
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