A Monthly Cycle in Food Expenditure and Intake by Participants in the U.S. Food Stamp Program

This paper uses nationally representative data to describe monthly cycles in food expenditure and food intake by food stamp recipients. Food expenditure peaks sharply in the first 3 days after food stamps are received. The corresponding cycle in food intake differs for various categories of food stamp recipients. Food stamp recipients who also receive AFDC appear to maintain steady food intake across the whole month, while AFDC nonrecipients experience a significant drop in intake at the end of the month. Children appear to maintain steady food intake, while adults appear to experience a significant drop. Households that conduct major grocery shopping trips more frequently than once per month maintain steady food intake, while households that shop less frequently experience a significant drop. The food stamp cycle has implications for two areas of research: the measurement of hunger and food insecurity in the United States and the measurement of the impact of the U.S. Food Stamp Program. Intramonthly patterns in food expenditure and food intake have potential implications for policy decisions about the frequency of food stamp benefit delivery, the evaluation of new electronic benefit transfer systems that are replacing traditional food stamp coupons, and nutrition education efforts.

Third Annual Report of the Farm Management Service for Farmers in Soil Conservation Demonstration Areas for the year 1937 (April 1937 to March 1938)

Farm Management,

An eclectic model of recent LDC macroeconomic policy analyses

After decades of neglect, there has been a growing concern in the 1970s with the theoretical and econometric analysis of short-run macroeconomic policy in LDCs. This paper attempts an eclectic synthesis of the recent work on this subject, developing a `standard LDC model' of aggregate demand and aggregate supply that can be readily compared with the text-book models for advanced economies. Comparative static analyses of monetary policy, fiscal policy, devaluation and wages policy are conducted, and it is shown that the standard macro-policy prescriptions often produce non-standard results. Monetary restriction and devaluation are particularly suspect, as they are likely to produce both recession and price rises.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23886/1/0000125.pd

Trends and racial disparities in mono, dual, and poly use of tobacco products among youth

Introduction We examined racial disparities in mono, dual, and poly use of tobacco products including whether racial disparities changed over time. Methods We analyzed data on high school students from the North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey collected in 2011, 2013, and 2015. Dual and poly use included use of two and three or more tobacco products, respectively, in the past month. Multinomial regression models assessed racial differences and changes over time in mono, dual, and poly use. Data include product combinations most commonly used by youth from different racial groups. Results In total, 24% (in 2011) and 26% (in 2013 and 2015) of students used tobacco products. No significant changes over time were observed in mono (12%) or dual use (6%). Poly use was 6%, 8%, and 7% in 2011, 2013, and 2015, respectively. Relative to nonuse of tobacco, White students had a higher relative risk than Blacks for mono use. Whites and Hispanics had a higher relative risk than Blacks for dual and poly use. Observed racial differences in tobacco use did not change over time. Types of tobacco products used varied by year and race. In 2015, e-cigarette was the most commonly used product among mono users from all racial groups. Conclusions Substantial racial variation persists over time in mono and multiple tobacco product use among North Carolina youth, including racial variation in the types of tobacco products used. Research and policy efforts should examine and eliminate factors that drive multiple tobacco use and racial disparities in use among youth. Implications This study reports on racial disparities in mono and multiple tobacco product use among youth. White and Hispanic youth have higher relative risk for dual and poly use of tobacco products than Black youth. In addition, significant racial variation exists in the types of tobacco products used among youth mono, dual, and poly users, with cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes being the most commonly used products. Patterns of multiple tobacco product use vary by race and may warrant tailored prevention efforts. Strengthening tobacco control regulations for other tobacco products than cigarettes is critical to reduce multiple tobacco product use among youth

Impact of non-menthol flavours in e-cigarettes on perceptions and use: an updated systematic review

Objectives Given the exponential increase in the use of e-cigarettes among younger age groups and in the growth in research on e-cigarette flavours, we conducted a systematic review examining the impact of non-menthol flavoured e-cigarettes on e-cigarette perceptions and use among youth and adults. Design PubMed, Embase, PyscINFO and CINAHL were systematically searched for studies published and indexed through March 2018. Eligibility criteria Quantitative observational and experimental studies that assessed the effect of non-menthol flavours in e-cigarettes on perceptions and use behaviours were included. Specific outcome measures assessed are appeal, reasons for use, risk perceptions, susceptibility, intention to try, initiation, preference, current use, quit intentions and cessation. Data extraction and synthesis Three authors independently extracted data related to the impact of flavours in tobacco products. Data from a previous review were then combined with those from the updated review for final analysis. Results were then grouped and analysed by outcome measure. Results The review included 51 articles for synthesis, including 17 published up to 2016 and an additional 34 published between 2016 and 2018. Results indicate that non-menthol flavours in e-cigarettes decrease harm perceptions (five studies) and increase willingness to try and initiation of e-cigarettes (six studies). Among adults, e-cigarette flavours increase product appeal (seven studies) and are a primary reason many adults use the product (five studies). The role of flavoured e-cigarettes on smoking cessation remains unclear (six studies). Conclusion This review provides summary data on the role of non-menthol flavours in e-cigarette perceptions and use. Consistent evidence shows that flavours attract both youth and adults to use e-cigarettes. Given the clear findings that such flavours increase product appeal, willingness to try and initiation among youth, banning non-menthol flavours in e-cigarettes may reduce youth e-cigarette use. Longitudinal research is needed to examine any role flavours may play in quit behaviours among adults

Risk factors for multiple tobacco product use among high school youth

Purpose: To examine how youth multiple tobacco product (MTP) users differ relative to non-users and to single-product users on risk factors at multiple levels of influence. Methods: We analyzed data on high school students from the North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey, 2015 (n = 2922). Single- and MTP use were defined as use of one, or two or more tobacco products in the past month, respectively. Multinomial regressions estimated the association between risk factors and MTP use compared to single-product use and non-use of tobacco. Risk factors included intra-personal (e.g., harm perceptions), and interpersonal (e.g., household, peer tobacco use, secondhand smoke or vapor, and advertising) factors. Results: Of students, 12% and 13% were single product and MTP users, respectively. Many differences emerged between MTP users and non-tobacco users, with MTP users showing lower harm perceptions, higher perceived social benefits of smoking, significantly higher relative risk of having friends who use tobacco (RRR = 4.79, 95% CI 3.42, 6.70), of exposure to secondhand e-cigarette vapor (RRR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.23, 1.48), and of being receptive to tobacco marketing (RRR = 4.01, 95% CI 2.87, 5.61). Fewer differences emerged between MTP and single product users with MTP users having significantly higher relative risk of having friends who use tobacco (RRR = 2.31 95% CI 1.73, 3.07), of exposure to secondhand vapor (RRR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.02, 1.18), and of being receptive to tobacco marketing (RRR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.17, 2.50). Conclusions: Efforts that target multiple tobacco product use should increase youth tobacco-related harm perceptions, and protect youth from social, peer, and industry influences

Evaluation of Community-Based Cessation Programs: How Do Smokers with Behavioral Health Conditions Fare?

Though persons with behavioral health conditions experience large disparities in tobacco use, questions about the efficacy of evidence-based tobacco use treatment remain understudied in community health settings. This evaluation examined outcomes from eight community-based tobacco cessation programs for participants with and without behavioral health conditions (n = 974 participants). The majority (64.8%) of participants reported one or more current behavioral health conditions, including mental illness and/or substance abuse. Participants who used cessation medication during the program and who attended more counseling sessions had an increased likelihood of being quit at 4-month follow-up. Quit rates were between 9.8% (intent-to-treat rate) and 30.6% (responder rate); behavioral health status did not negatively affect reported quit rates. Findings add to the growing literature evaluating community-based interventions within the behavioral health population

E-Cigarette use among adolescents not susceptible to using cigarettes

Introduction Research suggests that adolescents who use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), including adolescents not susceptible to smoking cigarettes (ie, those who have never smoked cigarettes and are not attitudinally susceptible to using cigarettes), are more likely to initiate using cigarettes or other combustible tobacco products than adolescents who do not use e-cigarettes. In this study, we examined correlates of e-cigarette use and susceptibility among adolescents not susceptible to future cigarette smoking. Methods We used data on high school students from the 2015 North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey (n = 1,627). SAS logistic regression survey procedures were used to account for the complex survey design and sampling weights. Results Increasing perceived harm of e-cigarettes was associated with lower odds of susceptibility to using e-cigarettes (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-0.96) and current use of e-cigarettes (AOR = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.25-0.72). Similar patterns were found for perceived harm of secondhand e-cigarette vapor. Exposure to e-cigarette vapor in indoor or outdoor public places was positively associated with susceptibility to using ecigarettes (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI, 1.33-2.91) and with current e-cigarette use (AOR = 5.69; 95% CI, 2.57-12.61). Conclusion To prevent initiation of e-cigarette use, particularly among adolescents not susceptible to smoking cigarettes, educational campaigns could target harm perceptions associated with e-cigarettes. In addition, regulations that limit adolescents' exposure to e-cigarettes in public places may decrease e-cigarette use by nonsusceptible adolescents