The association between alcohol, marijuana use, and new and emerging tobacco products in a young adult population

• Examine correlates of emerging tobacco product use in young adults
• Alcohol use was related to e-cigarette, hookah, and little cigar/cigarillo use.
• Marijuana use was related to e-cigarette, hookah, and little cigar/cigarillo use.
• Sensation seeking moderated alcohol use associations to tobacco product use.

BackgroundYoung adults have the highest rates of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use relative to any other age group. Few studies have examined the co-occurrence of substance use with new and emerging tobacco products in this vulnerable group, or the underlying personality factors that may explain these associations. To address this gap, this study examined the association of current alcohol and marijuana use with the use of cigarettes and emerging tobacco products in a nationally representative sample of young adults.MethodsData were drawn from 18 to 24 year olds in Wave 4 (January 2013; n = 1609) of the Legacy Young Adult Cohort, a nationally-representative sample of men and women. Never, ever (lifetime), and past 30-day use of little cigars/cigarillos (LCCs), hookah, e-cigarettes, and cigarettes were assessed separately in current (everyday or some days) alcohol and marijuana users.ResultsUsing weighted estimates, multivariable multinomial logistic regression models showed that current alcohol and marijuana use were associated with lifetime and past 30-day use of cigarettes, LCCs, e-cigarettes, and hookah, with different magnitudes of association found across each product. Post-hoc exploratory analyses showed that sensation-seeking traits moderated the relationship of alcohol (but not marijuana) use to current use of select tobacco products.DiscussionMarijuana and alcohol use may enhance risk for emerging tobacco products use in young adulthood. Prevention and intervention programs may need to target poly-use of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco rather than focusing on a single risk behavior during these critical years.