title: Electronic-cigarette use by individuals in treatment for substance abuse: A survey of 24 treatment centers in the United States.
abstract: Prevalence and reasons for using electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) was examined among patients enrolled in 24 substance abuse treatment centers in the United States (N=1113). Prevalence of e-cigarette use was assessed for the full sample. Bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify characteristics associated with e-cigarette use among current cigarette smokers (the majority of e-cigarette users). Overall 55.5% of the sample reported lifetime use of e-cigarettes, and 30.5% reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30days (current users). The main reasons for using e-cigarettes were (a) at times/places when smoking was prohibited (53.5%), and (b) as a way to quit/reduce cigarette smoking (50.3%). Daily vs non-daily e-cigarette users were more likely to use e-cigarettes both as a way to reduce health risks, and as a way to quit/reduce cigarette smoking. A majority of e-cigarette users (87.1%) reported dual use of e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes during the past month. Among current cigarette smokers, those that also used e-cigarettes smoked more cigarettes per day, were more likely to have made a past year cigarette quit attempt, and to have tried nicotine replacement therapy compared to cigarette only smokers. There was a high rate of dual e-cigarette and cigarette use by persons enrolled in addiction treatment. E-cigarette users may be heavier cigarette smokers trying to quit or reduce their cigarette smoking. However, e-cigarettes were also used at times when individuals could not smoke cigarettes. Substance abuse treatment centers developing tobacco policies need to consider these potentially conflicting reasons for using e-cigarettes.
authors.affiliation: Center for Tobacco Control Research & Education, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States. Electronic address: noah.gubner@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Noah R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Gubner
authors.affiliation: Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: K Blakely
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammad-Zadeh
authors.affiliation: Center for Tobacco Control Research & Education, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Nadra E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Lisha
authors.affiliation: Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guydish
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States
keywords: Addiction; Alcohol; Dependence; Drug; E-cig; E-cigarette; Smoking; Tobacco