Marijuana and e-cigarette use in a US national sample of 8th and 10th grade never-smokers of conventional cigarettes

Introduction: E-cigarette use remains a controversial topic in public health and medicine. Historically, cigarette smoking was identified as a gateway to marijuana use among adolescents. Recently, the prevalence of adolescent cigarette smoking has declined, but that of e-cigarette use continues to increase. As e-cigarettes eclipse cigarettes among adolescents, e-cigarette use may predispose adolescents to marijuana use. This study examines the relationship between e-cigarette use and marijuana use in a national sample of adolescents who have never smoked conventional cigarettes. Methods: A national sample of 8th and 10th grade never-smokers of conventional cigarettes (N=12,743) was obtained from 2014-2015 Monitoring the Future surveys. The dependent variable was past 30-day marijuana use (dichotomized Yes/No), and the independent variables were past 30-day e-cigarette use (dichotomized Yes/No), perceived availability of marijuana, peer marijuana use, parental monitoring, and religiosity. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted with marijuana use regressed on e-cigarette use, and other independent variables while controlling for covariates such as paid employment, risk-taking propensity, and sociodemographic variables. Additional regression analysis was conducted on e-cigarette users only. Results: Among adolescent never-smokers of conventional cigarettes, 5.2% and 5.6% had used marijuana and e-cigarettes, respectively, in the past 30 days. Among never-smokers who are current e-cigarette users, 24.2% had used marijuana at least once in the past 30-days, compared to 3.9% of non-e-cigarette users. Logistic regression analyses showed that e-cigarette users were three times more likely than non-users to be current marijuana users after adjusting for other variables. Perceived availability of marijuana and peer marijuana use increased the likelihood of marijuana use, while parental monitoring and religiosity were protective against marijuana use. Among e-cigarette users, the predictors of marijuana use were peer marijuana use and perceived availability of marijuana. Conclusion & Implications: A significant proportion of adolescents who have never smoked conventional cigarettes are current marijuana users. Among these adolescents, e-cigarette use is associated with a threefold increase in odds of marijuana use, suggesting a link between e-cigarette and marijuana use that is independent of conventional cigarette smoking. Among e-cigarette users, peer marijuana use and perceived availability of marijuana are particularly predictive of marijuana use and are potential foci for targeted interventions focused on reducing dual e-cigarette and marijuana use among adolescents

Adolescent E-Cigarette Users’ Perceptions of the Harm and Addictiveness of Conventional Cigarette Smoking

As the popularity of e-cigarettes continues to rise and their link with conventional cigarette smoking becomes clearer, it is important to understand how e-cigarette users compare with non-users, conventional cigarette smokers, and dual users on perceptions of addiction risk of conventional cigarette smoking as well as on other risk factors associated with smoking. PRC graduate student trainee Olusegun Owotomo, PRC faculty research associate Julie Maslowsky, and co-author Alexandra Loukas found that adolescent e-cigarette users endorsed a number of attitudes, perceptions, and characteristics that are risk factors for conventional cigarette smoking. These perceptions may leave them vulnerable to becoming conventional cigarette smokers or dual users in the future and potentially increase their risk for nicotine addiction.Population Research Cente

Furman v. Georgia and the Supreme Court\u27s Failure to Apply It

In the case of Furman v. Georgia (1972), the Supreme Court outlawed the death penalty on the grounds that its use constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. No majority opinion was written, but the plurality opinions all agreed that the amount of discretion in death penalty sentencing left too much room for the death penalty to be given arbitrarily. When the death penalty was reinstated in Gregg v. Georgia (1976), the Court approved schemes that limited the discretion of sentencing bodies by providing sentencing guidelines, automatically appealing all death penalty cases for review, or taking other steps toe ensure there was some methodology determining which death penalty-eligible criminals actually receive it. In this paper, I will make the argument that the Court failed to effectively amend the shortcomings of the Furman decision. While the Court addressed discretion to give the death penalty by mandating sentencing guidelines be used and calling for review of all death penalty cases, that is only half of the issue. Sentencing parties also exercise discretion when deciding to give life imprisonment over the death penalty, a discretion that is equally open to arbitrariness. Because arbitrariness and abuse of discretion were the reason the death penalty was ruled unconstitutional in Furman, the best solution to the issue is the mandatory death penalty, which allows little to no room for arbitrariness in influencing sentencing

Furman v. Georgia and the Supreme Court\u27s Failure to Apply It

In the case of Furman v. Georgia (1972), the Supreme Court outlawed the death penalty on the grounds that its use constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. No majority opinion was written, but the plurality opinions all agreed that the amount of discretion in death penalty sentencing left too much room for the death penalty to be given arbitrarily. When the death penalty was reinstated in Gregg v. Georgia (1976), the Court approved schemes that limited the discretion of sentencing bodies by providing sentencing guidelines, automatically appealing all death penalty cases for review, or taking other steps toe ensure there was some methodology determining which death penalty-eligible criminals actually receive it. In this paper, I will make the argument that the Court failed to effectively amend the shortcomings of the Furman decision. While the Court addressed discretion to give the death penalty by mandating sentencing guidelines be used and calling for review of all death penalty cases, that is only half of the issue. Sentencing parties also exercise discretion when deciding to give life imprisonment over the death penalty, a discretion that is equally open to arbitrariness. Because arbitrariness and abuse of discretion were the reason the death penalty was ruled unconstitutional in Furman, the best solution to the issue is the mandatory death penalty, which allows little to no room for arbitrariness in influencing sentencing

Answering Developmental Questions Using Secondary Data

Secondary data analysis of large longitudinal and national data sets is a standard method used in many social sciences to answer complex questions regarding behavior. In this article, we detail the advantages of using these data sets to study developmental questions across the life span. First, we provide an overview of how using secondary data can increase studies' scientific integrity. Then, we detail where and how data sets can be obtained that answer specific questions. Finally, we discuss methodological issues related to using longitudinal, population data sets. These data sets can enhance science and test theories by increasing the rigor and generalizability of research to the general population, making secondary data analysis an important method to consider.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/115923/1/cdep12151.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/115923/2/cdep12151_am.pd

Effects of postpartum mobile phone‐based education on maternal and infant health in Ecuador

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of a mobile phone‐based intervention on postnatal maternal health behavior and maternal and infant health in a middle‐income country.MethodsA prospective evaluation enrolled consecutive postpartum women at two public hospitals in Quito, Ecuador, between June and August 2012. Inclusion criteria were live birth, no neonatal intensive care admission, and Spanish speaking. Intervention and control groups were assigned via random number generation. The intervention included a telephone‐delivered educational session and phone/text access to a nurse for 30 days after delivery. Maternal and infant health indicators were recorded at delivery and 3 months after delivery via chart review and written/telephone‐administered survey.ResultsOverall, 102 women were assigned to the intervention group and 76 to the control group. At 3 months, intervention participants were more likely to attend the infant’s postnatal check‐up (P = 0.022) and to breastfeed exclusively (P = 0.005), and less likely to feed formula (P = 0.016). They used more effective forms of contraception (more implants P = 0.023; fewer condoms P = 0.036) and reported fewer infant illnesses (P = 0.010). There were no differences in maternal acute illness or check‐up attendance.ConclusionMobile phone‐based postnatal patient education is a promising strategy for improving breastfeeding, contraceptive use, and infant health in low‐resource settings; different strategies are needed to influence postpartum maternal health behavior.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135151/1/ijgo93.pd

Neural Correlates of Treatment in Adolescents with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Preliminary Investigation

Objective: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent and debilitating psychiatric condition in adolescence. Two effective forms of treatment are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This pilot study examined changes in brain function following each type of treatment in GAD. Method: Subjects were 14 youth with GAD (7 had CBT, 7 received fluoxetine) and 10 age- and gender-matched healthy peers. FMRI scans were acquired before and after treatment for patients, and over two comparable time points for controls. During fMRI acquisition, a probe detection task with emotional (angry, happy) and neutral faces allowed for assessment of neural response to threat. Following previous research, region of interest analyses were performed in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC). Results: FMRI results showed increased VLPFC activation, relative to controls, in the medication (t(15) = 3.01, p \u3c 0.01) and CBT (t(15) = 3.22, p \u3c 0.01) groups following treatment. Conclusions: This study shows significant increase in VLPFC activation in response to angry faces following treatment with CBT or fluoxetine for GAD. This is consistent with previous research indicating that the VLPFC may facilitate effective responding to underlying neural correlates of anxiety in other brain regions, such as the amygdala

Engaging Patients via Mobile Phone Technology to Assist Follow-Up After Hospitalization in Quito, Ecuador

Abstract Objective: Disease management following hospital discharge is difficult in most low-resourced areas, posing a major obstacle to health equity. Although mobile phones are a ubiquitous and promising technology to facilitate healthcare access, few studies have tested the acceptability and feasibility of patients themselves using the devices for assisting linkages to healthcare services. We hypothesized that patients would use mobile phones to help manage postdischarge problems, if given a communication protocol. We developed a mobile phone-based program and investigated its acceptability and feasibility as a method of delivering posthospitalization care. Subjects and Methods: A consecutive cohort of adult patients in a public hospital in Quito, Ecuador was enrolled over a 1-month period. A hospital-based nurse relayed patients' discharge instructions to a community-based nurse. Patients corresponded with this nurse via text messaging and phone calls according to a protocol to initiate and participate in follow-up. Results: Eighty-nine percent of eligible patients participated. Ninety-seven percent of participants completed at least one contact with the nurse; 81% initiated contact themselves. Nurses completed 262 contacts with 32 patients, clarifying discharge instructions, providing preventive education, and facilitating clinic appointments. By this method, 87% of patients were successfully linked to follow-up appointments. Conclusions: High levels of patient participation and successful delivery of follow-up services indicate the mobile phone program's acceptability and feasibility for facilitating posthospitalization follow-up. Patients actively used mobile phones to interact with nurses, enabling the provision of posthospitalization medical advice and facilitate community-based care via mobile phone.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98493/1/tmj%2E2011%2E0156.pd

ISYDE-2008 Study presentation The Italian Survey on cardiac rehabilitation: a snapshot of current cardiac rehabilitation programmes and provides in Italy

The Italian Society of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention (GICR) has developed the ISYDE-2008 survey with the purpose to take a detailed snapshot in terms of number, distribution, facilities, staffing levels, organization, and programme details of CR units in Italy and to compare actual provision with the recommendation of National GL for CR and secondary prevention.The study will be carried out with a web-based questionnaire running on the GICR website in 2 weeks from Jan. 28 to Feb. 10, 2008. The first part of the questionnaire is designed to collect information on the institutional organization of the CR unit, on its location and functional relationships within the hospital, on the number of beds for inpatient CR units and hours of activity for outpatient and home–based services, on the composition of the core and multidisciplinary teams, and finally on the components of CR programmes.In the second part of the survey, CR directors will be requested to report for each patient discharged during the 2 weeks of the study, indications for admission to CR, time of enrolment, comorbidity, complications, risk profile, diagnostic procedures, exercise and educational programme, discharge modalities, treatment at discharge and follow-up schedule.More than 2300 pts are expected to enter in the survey, whose results depicting the status of CR in Italy will be available within April 2008

Adolescent adaptation before, during and in the aftermath of the Great Recession in the USA

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135470/1/ijop12389_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135470/2/ijop12389.pd