Erin L. Sutfin

Calorie Restriction on Drinking Days: An Examination of Drinking Consequences among College Students.

Objective: This study examined the association between restricting calories on intended drinking days and drunkenness frequency and alcohol-related consequences among college students. Participants: Participants included a random sample of 4,271 undergraduate college students from 10 universities. Methods: Students completed a Web-based survey regarding their high-risk drinking behaviors and calorie restriction on intended drinking days. Results: Thirty-nine percent of past 30-day drinkers reported restricting calories on days they planned to drink alcohol, of which 67% restricted because of weight concerns. Restricting calories on drinking days was associated with greater odds of getting drunk in a typical week. Women who restricted were more likely to report memory loss, being injured, being taken advantage of sexually, and having unprotected sex while drinking. Men were more likely to get into a physical fight. Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of considering weight control behaviors in the examination of high-risk college drinking.

Occasional smoking in college: Who, what, when and why?

INTRODUCTION The majority of college students who smoke do so on an occasional basis and generally do not define themselves as smokers. This represents a considerable challenge for public health efforts to prevent escalation of use and to promote cessation. Strengthening such efforts will require further examination of the motivations behind occasional smoking within this vulnerable group. METHODS Based within a priori identified content areas, we conducted eight focus groups of occasional smokers (N=53) at two demographically diverse colleges in the southeastern U.S. RESULTS Few participants self-identified as a smoker and few had immediate desire to quit. Most identified extrinsic motivations for future quitting, including college graduation and parenthood. Although participants acknowledged smoking-related health risks, they minimized them as being personally irrelevant. Participants highlighted social (i.e., alcohol and other smokers) and stress-related smoking triggers. They also described how they carefully managed the situations in which they would, and would not smoke in order to preserve their identity. CONCLUSIONS College students who smoke occasionally appear to engage in impression management, taking effort to shape their personal image to not appear as a smoker. They use smoking mainly as a social engagement tool, but also to alleviate negative emotions. They express minimal desire to quit and believe they are immune to the health risks of smoking. Public health messages should address this common pattern of smoking among young adults differently than regular smoking patterns by highlighting the social, emotional, and health consequences of occasional smoking before nicotine dependence has fully developed.

College students' exposure to secondhand smoke

INTRODUCTION Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is associated with morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory infections, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome, and other illnesses. Although substantial numbers of college students smoke, little is known about their exposure to SHS. This paper provides data on self-reported exposure of college students to SHS. METHODS A Web-based survey of a random sample of undergraduate students at 10 universities (eight public and two private) in North Carolina was conducted (N = 4,223). RESULTS A total of 83% of students reported any exposure in the 7 days preceding the survey. Exposure in a restaurant or bar was the most common (reported by 65% of students), followed by exposure at home or in the same room as a smoker (55%) and in a car (38%). Being a daily or nondaily smoker, binge drinking, being a fraternity or sorority member or pledge, female gender, White race, and higher parental education levels were associated with exposure in one or more contexts. Students younger than 21 years were less likely to report exposure in a bar or restaurant and more likely to report exposure in cars or at home. The overall campus smoking rate was positively associated with reported exposure in cars, at home or in someones room, and in any location. DISCUSSION College administrators, other policy makers, and tobacco control advocates should take steps to reduce smoking and concomitant exposure to SHS among college students.

Tobacco Use by College Students: A Comparison of Daily and Nondaily Smokers

OBJECTIVES To explore demographics, contextual factors, and health risk behaviors associated with nondaily smoking by college students. METHODS In fall 2005, a random sample of 4100 students completed an online survey. RESULTS Of those surveyed, 29% reported current smoking; of that 29%, 70% were nondaily smokers. Compared to daily smokers, nondaily smokers were younger, African American (compared to white), had mothers with higher education, belonged to Greek organizations, and attended private (vs public) schools. Nondaily smokers were less likely to have used illicit drugs. CONCLUSIONS Nondaily and daily smokers differed on several demographic and contextual factors, but reported mostly similar health risk behaviors.

Contextual Factors and Health Risk Behaviors Associated with Date Fighting Among High School Students

ABSTRACT Over 2,000 North Carolina high school students completed surveys measuring community risk and protective factors and individual health risk behaviors including dating violence perpetration and victimization. Females reported more date fighting perpetration than males (8.8% to 4.0%), as well as greater levels of date fighting victimization (7.2% and 5.0%). In multivariate models, factors associated with date fighting perpetration among females and males included riding with a drinking driver. Neighborhood organization was protective for both groups. Cigarette use, drinking and driving, and being a minority were also associated with perpetration among females, while tobacco use was associated with date fighting perpetration by males. Factors associated with victimization among both genders included riding with a drinking driver. Females were more likely to be victimized if they used marijuana, whereas males were less likely to be a victim of date fighting if they perceived their community to be “organized.” Findings reflect comparable individual risk factors for date fighting across genders, with few exceptions, and warrant further investigation of the role of community assets in protecting young people from dating violence.

What are young adults smoking in their hookahs? A latent class analysis of substances smoked.

RATIONALE Hookah smoking continues to be a popular form of tobacco use, especially among college students. Although hookahs are commonly used to smoke tobacco, anecdotal evidence suggests other substances, including herbal shisha, marijuana and hashish may be used. However, little is known about the variety of substances smoked in hookahs, or correlates associated with different substances smoked. METHODS In fall 2010, 3447 students from 8 colleges in N.C. completed an online survey. RESULTS 44% of students reported ever smoking tobacco from a hookah. Of those ever users, 90% reported smoking flavored tobacco in a hookah, 45% marijuana, 37% herbal (non-tobacco) shisha, and 18% hashish. Latent class analysis revealed two distinct classes. The most prevalent class (77%) primarily smoked flavored tobacco, with minimal use of herbal shisha and marijuana and virtually no use of hashish. The second class (23%) primarily smoked marijuana, hashish and flavored tobacco with moderate use of herbal shisha. Logistic regression analysis adjusting for clustering within schools revealed that males, illicit drug users, daily, nondaily and former cigarette smokers and those whose mothers had higher levels of education were significantly more likely to be in the second class compared to the first. CONCLUSIONS Rates of lifetime use of hookah were high in our sample of college students. While the majority of hookah users smoked tobacco in hookahs, they also smoked other substances, notably marijuana and herbal shisha. Prevention efforts should recognize that students are using hookahs to smoke a variety of substances.

E-cigarette Availability and Promotion Among Retail Outlets Near College Campuses in Two Southeastern States

INTRODUCTION E-cigarettes are relatively new products that simulate the smoking experience. This descriptive study assessed changes in e-cigarette availability and promotions among retailers in 11 college communities in North Carolina and Virginia during a 1-year period. METHODS During the spring of 2012 and 2013, observers completed assessments in 320 tobacco-selling retailers, including grocery and convenience stores, pharmacies, and tobacco shops. Assessors collected e-cigarette availability, advertising, price, and promotions. RESULTS E-cigarette availability increased among retailers from 24.7% in 2012 to 59.9% in 2013. They were available in the form of disposables and reusable kits and were most frequently available in tobacco shops, convenience stores, and pharmacies. The average price for disposables was

Simultaneous use of non-medical ADHD prescription stimulants and alcohol among undergraduate students

9.70 (SD = 1.07) in 2012 and

Marijuana use trajectories and academic outcomes among college students.

9.61 (SD = 2.10) in 2013; the average price for kits was

Use of and interest in smoking cessation strategies among daily and nondaily college student smokers

39.58 (SD = 15.79) in 2012 and