Dataset Information

Alcohol and Tobacco Use in a Tuberculosis Treatment Cohort during South Africa's COVID-19 Sales Bans: A Case Series.

ABSTRACT:

Background

South Africa temporarily banned alcohol and tobacco sales for about 20 weeks during the COVID-19 lockdown. We described changes in alcohol and tobacco consumption after implementation of these restrictions among a small number of participants in a tuberculosis treatment cohort.

Method

The timeline follow-back procedure and Fägerstrom test for nicotine dependence was used to collect monthly alcohol and tobacco use information. We report changes in heavy drinking days (HDD), average amount of absolute alcohol (AA) consumed per drinking day, and cigarettes smoked daily during the alcohol and tobacco ban compared to use prior to the ban.

Results

Of the 61 participants for whom we have pre-ban and within-ban alcohol use information, 17 (27.9%) reported within-ban alcohol use. On average, participants reported one less HDD per fortnight (interquartile range (IQR): -4, 1), but their amount of AA consumed increased by 37.4 g per drinking occasion (IQR: -65.9 g, 71.0 g). Of 53 participants who reported pre-ban tobacco use, 17 (32.1%) stopped smoking during the ban. The number of participants smoking >10 cigarettes per day decreased from 8 to 1.

Conclusions

From these observations, we hypothesize that policies restricting alcohol and tobacco availability seem to enable some individuals to reduce their consumption. However, these appear to have little effect on the volume of AA consumed among individuals with more harmful patterns of drinking in the absence of additional behavior change interventions.

SUBMITTER: Myers B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8161406 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Alcohol and Tobacco Use in a Tuberculosis Treatment Cohort during South Africa's COVID-19 Sales Bans: A Case Series.

Myers Bronwyn B Carney Tara T Rooney Jennifer J Malatesta Samantha S White Laura F LF Parry Charles D H CDH Bouton Tara C TC Ragan Elizabeth J EJ Horsburgh Charles Robert CR Warren Robin M RM Jacobson Karen R KR

International journal of environmental research and public health 20210519 10

<h4>Background</h4>South Africa temporarily banned alcohol and tobacco sales for about 20 weeks during the COVID-19 lockdown. We described changes in alcohol and tobacco consumption after implementation of these restrictions among a small number of participants in a tuberculosis treatment cohort.<h4>Method</h4>The timeline follow-back procedure and Fägerstrom test for nicotine dependence was used to collect monthly alcohol and tobacco use information. We report changes in heavy drinking days (HD ...[more]

PMID: 34069737

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Project description:IntroductionBeverly Hills and Manhattan Beach were the first California cities to end tobacco sales. Previous research assessed retailers' perceptions of the laws. This study is the first to evaluate compliance (Study 1), assess whether branded or unbranded tobacco cues remain, and examine cigarette prices/discounts in cross-border stores (Study 2).Aims and methodsEach of the four data collectors requested Marlboro or e-cigarettes (randomly assigned) in all restricted stores (n = 33) until four attempts were exhausted or a violation occurred. Follow-up visits recorded whether former tobacco retailers advertised tobacco or contained unbranded cues. In a random sample of 126 cross-border stores (half within 1 mile of no-sales cities and half 2-4 miles away), data collectors recorded price of Marlboro and presence of cigarette discounts. Mixed models (stores within tracts), tested for differences between near and far stores, adjusting for store type and median household income.ResultsCompliance was 87.5%: three stores sold Marlboro (US $8, $10, and $10) and one sold Puff Bar (US $16). Tobacco-branded items and unbranded tobacco cues remained in one store each. Mean Marlboro price was US $10.61 (SD = 1.92) at stores within 1 mile of no-sales cities, averaging US $0.73 more than at stores farther away (p < .05). However, odds of advertising cigarette discounts did not differ between stores nearby and farther from no-sales cities.ConclusionsNearly all retailers complied with tobacco sales bans within 6-12 months of implementation. In addition, retail tobacco marketing was nearly eliminated in the two cities. There was no evidence of price gouging for Marlboro cigarettes in cross-border stores.ImplicationsEvidence from two early adopters of tobacco sales bans suggests that such local laws can be implemented effectively in California, although results from these high-income cities in a state with a strong tobacco control record limits generalizability. Enforcement involving routine purchase attempts rather than visual inspection of tobacco products is recommended. Although Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach are each surrounded by communities where tobacco sales persist, there was no evidence of price gouging for cigarettes or greater presence of discounts in cross-border stores. Evaluations of the economic impacts and public health benefits of tobacco sales bans are much needed.

Project description:BACKGROUND:The use of excessive caffeine and consumption of alcohol, cigarette, and khat during pregnancy can result in adverse health effects on the fetus. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily caffeine intake not exceeding 300 mg. Likewise, pregnant women are recommended to avoid alcohol, khat and tobacco use. However, the prevalence's of the use of substances among pregnant women were not well studied in developing countries such as Ethiopia. Therefore, the study aimed to estimate the prevalence of caffeine and alcohol consumption, khat chewing, and tobacco use during pregnancy and identify key factors associated with excess caffeine consumption. METHODS:We conducted a community based cross-sectional study and used a random sampling technique to recruit 352 pregnant women. We adapted a questionnaire from Caffeine Consumption Questionnaire-Revised (CCQ-R), Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), and Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2016 for caffeine, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and khat chewing assessment, respectively. We conducted non-consecutive two days 24-hour recall to determine the habitual intake of caffeine from caffeinated beverages and foods. Prevalence with 95% confidence interval was estimated for excess caffeine intake per day, alcohol consumption, khat chewing, and passive tobacco smoking. We ran a multivariable binary logistic regression model to identify factors associated with excess caffeine intake. RESULTS:Almost all pregnant women (98.2%) consumed caffeine as estimated using the 2 days 24-hour average. The median daily caffeine intake was 170.5 mg and ranged from 0.00 mg to 549.8 mg per day. In addition, 17.6% (95% CI: 13.9%, 22.0%) of them had a daily caffeine consumption of 300 mg and above exceeding the WHO recommended daily caffeine intake during pregnancy. The prevalence of alcohol consumption and Khat chewing were 10.0% (95% CI: 7.2%, 13.7%) and 35.8% (95% CI: 30.8, 41.0%) respectively. None of the pregnant women were active tobacco smokers. However, 23.2% (95% CI: 19.0, 28.0%) were passive tobacco smokers. We found that pregnant women in the richest wealth quintile (AOR = 3.66; 95% CI: 1.13, 11.88), and the first trimester of pregnancy (AOR = 4.04; 95% CI: 1.26, 13.05) had higher odds of consuming excessive caffeine. CONCLUSIONS:The study showed a considerable magnitude of substance use among pregnant women in the study area. Given this findings, we recommend, programs and services focusing on pregnant women to consider addressing substance use.

Project description:ImportanceMore than one-quarter of US residents live in states or localities that restrict sales of flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), often as a means to reduce youth vaping. Yet, how these policies affect young adult vaping and smoking remains unclear.ObjectiveTo estimate the effects of ENDS flavor restrictions on ENDS use and cigarette smoking among young adults (age 18-29 years) in the US.Design, participants, and settingThis quasi-experimental analysis used annual survey data from the 2016 to 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a series of nationally- and state-representative, repeated cross-sectional surveys of noninstitutionalized civilian adults in the US. Two-way fixed-effects specifications were estimated to assess how ENDS flavor restrictions affect young adults' use of ENDS and cigarettes. Analyses were adjusted for potential confounders including concurrent tobacco control policies, respondent demographic characteristics, and socioeconomic factors. Data analyses were conducted in November 2023 and repeated in October 2024 to incorporate newly released 2023 survey data.Main outcomes and measuresCurrent and daily use of ENDS and of cigarettes as measured in the BRFSS.ResultsBalanced panel analyses of 242 154 individuals aged 18 to 29 years consistently found that state ENDS flavor restrictions were associated with statistically significant reductions in daily vaping and increases in daily cigarette smoking. Estimates were similar across robustness checks, with the main specification showing 3.6 (95% CI, -5.0 to -2.1) percentage point (ppt) reductions in daily vaping and 2.2 ppt increases in daily cigarette smoking (95% CI, 1.0 to 3.4) relative to changes in states without restrictions. These estimates are equivalent to an 80% reduction in daily vaping and 22% increase in daily smoking compared with 2018 mean rates.Conclusions and relevanceThe findings of this quasi-experimental analysis of BRFSS survey data indicate that state restrictions on flavored ENDS sales were associated with reduced vaping among young adults but may have unintentionally increased cigarette smoking, potentially offsetting public health gains. These findings suggest that alleviating the burden of tobacco-related disease will require regulatory strategies that balance reducing vaping with preventing increases in more lethal, combustible tobacco use.

Project description:ImportanceBanning electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) sales to minors has been a key policy to protect children from e-cigarettes in the United States and Canada, but to date little is known about the outcome of such a ban.ObjectivesTo investigate the association of banning e-cigarette sales to minors in Canada with e-cigarette use among youths and the mechanisms through which a ban might be associated with their e-cigarette use.Design, setting, and participantsThis quasi-experimental difference-in-differences and triple-differences study used data from the nationally representative Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (2013-2017) and Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (2014-2017). Study samples consisted of respondents aged 15 to 18 years (in difference-in-differences analysis; n = 8212) and aged 15 to 25 years (in triple-differences analysis; n = 20 934) in the Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, and students in grades 6 to 12 (in difference-in-differences analysis; n = 78 650) in the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey.InterventionsCanada's provincial bans on e-cigarette sales to youths younger than 18 or 19 years (depending on province) implemented between 2015 and 2017.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was past 30-day e-cigarette use among youths. Secondary outcomes were difficulty of access to e-cigarettes, perception of e-cigarette harm, and use of social sources of e-cigarettes.ResultsAfter the bans, e-cigarette use among youths increased in all provinces, but the increase was 3.1 percentage points (95% CI, 0.2-6.0; P = .04), or 79%, lower in provinces with a ban than in provinces without a ban. Youths in provinces with a ban were 2.6 percentage points (95% CI, 1.5-3.7; P = .001), or 18%, less likely to believe that regular e-cigarette use poses no harm and 6.2 percentage points (95% CI, 1.1-11.4; P = .02), or 16%, more likely to self-report greater difficulty in obtaining e-cigarettes. Among youths who reported using e-cigarettes, the likelihood of obtaining e-cigarettes from social sources was 17.3 percentage points (95% CI, 5.2 -29.4; P = .01), or 29%, higher in provinces with a ban. These findings were robust to several sensitivity analyses.Conclusions and relevanceBanning e-cigarette sales to minors was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of increase in e-cigarette use by youths, but this policy alone could not reverse the overall increase in e-cigarette use. The findings from this study suggest that this policy should be supplemented with other measures that can reduce young people's desire to obtain e-cigarettes through social sources, such as a ban on e-cigarettes with flavors that appeal to youths and children.

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Dataset Information

Alcohol and Tobacco Use in a Tuberculosis Treatment Cohort during South Africa's COVID-19 Sales Bans: A Case Series.

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Alcohol and Tobacco Use in a Tuberculosis Treatment Cohort during South Africa's COVID-19 Sales Bans: A Case Series.

Similar Datasets

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