Young adults report increased pleasure from using e-cigarettes and smoking tobacco cigarettes when drinking alcohol.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nCigarettes share a high rate of co-use with alcohol, particularly among young adults. Studies have demonstrated greater perceived pleasure from smoking cigarettes when drinking alcohol. However, little is known about co-use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) and alcohol. The current study sought to compare extent of use and perceived pleasure from cigarettes and e-cigs when drinking alcohol.\n\n\nMETHODS\nYoung adult bar patrons in California cities (San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco) were recruited in 2015-16 using randomized time-location sampling. Participants completed cross-sectional surveys in bars, reporting the percent of cigarette smoking/e-cig use that occurred under the influence of alcohol, and reported if pleasure from smoking cigarettes/using e-cigs changed when drinking alcohol. Analyses are limited to participants reporting current (past 30-day) use of cigarettes, e-cigs, and alcohol (N\u202f=\u202f269; M age\u202f=\u202f24.1; 40.1% female, 36.1% Non-Hispanic White).\n\n\nRESULTS\nParticipants reported a greater percentage of cigarette smoking compared to e-cig use under the influence of alcohol (cigarettes M\u202f=\u202f63.6%; e-cigs M\u202f=\u202f46.7%; p\u202f<\u202f.001). Participants also reported increased pleasure both from smoking cigarettes (M\u202f=\u202f3.9; [compared to midpoint of scale 3 - no change ] p\u202f<\u202f.001) and using e-cigs (M\u202f=\u202f3.3; p\u202f<\u202f.001) when drinking alcohol. The increase in pleasure was more pronounced for cigarettes compared to e-cigs (p\u202f<\u202f.001).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nDrinking alcohol is associated with increases in perceived rewarding effects of both cigarettes and e-cigs and thus may increase their abuse liability. This effect may be stronger for cigarettes, which could be an important barrier to switching completely from smoking cigarettes to using e-cigs, or quitting both entirely.