title: E-cigarette use of young adults motivations and associations with combustible cigarette alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the prevalence of e-cigarette use among adolescents and young adults has caught up to or eclipsed that of combustible cigarette use, there is relatively little known about (a) the link between e-cigarettes and other substances and (b) the reasons underlying this increase in e-cigarette use. To address this gap in knowledge, the current study examined associations between e-cigarette use and other substances and identified motives for e-cigarette use among young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included an ethnically diverse sample of African American, White, and Hispanic young adults (N = 662; 61% female) who were participating in an ongoing survey-based longitudinal study of health and risky behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hispanic, White, and male young adults reported significantly greater past year e-cigarette use compared to their African American and female counterparts. Bivariate correlations showed that use of e-cigarettes was positively associated with use of combustible cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, inhalants, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and misuse of over-the-counter and prescription medications. Furthermore, e-cigarette users reported a higher prevalence of substance use relative to those who did not use e-cigarettes. The taste of e-cigarettes was identified as an important motive for use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the potential harm associated with e-cigarettes remains largely unknown, e-cigarettes appear to be a risk marker for the use of substances that are known to pose substantial health problems. Health care providers should screen for e-cigarette use, and youth substance use prevention programs should target the reduction of e-cigarette use with particular attention to addressing their taste appeal. (Am J Addict 2017;26:343-348).
authors.affiliation: Department of Ob/Gyn, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Jeff R
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3193-0510
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Temple
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Shorey
authors.affiliation: Department of Ob/Gyn, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ob/Gyn, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.affiliation: Department of Ob/Gyn, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Vi D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Le
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult