Abstract
Introduction:
Concurrent tobacco/alcohol use is common in adults, and associated with the severity of symptoms experienced by those with mental health disorders. However, few studies have explored this relationship across different combinations of tobacco products [i.e., conventional cigarette (CC) and electronic cigarette (EC)] and alcohol.
Methods:
Data from the Wave 1 (2013–2014) Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study were used. A total of 15,947 adults aged 18 years or older with complete study information were included. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between lifetime internalizing/externalizing severity and past 30-day use of tobacco and alcohol, adjusting for nicotine dependence (ND), sex, age, race, education, and income.
Results:
Internalizing severity was more strongly associated with CC and alcohol use (moderate AOR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.22–1.77; high AOR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.03–1.61) as well as alcohol-exclusive use (moderate AOR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.27–1.96; high AOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.05–1.64) while externalizing severity was more strongly associated with EC and alcohol use (high AOR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.84–4.81, moderate AOR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.53–3.43) when accounting for ND compared to none. The relationship between externalizing severity with EC use was dependent on alcohol being used with EC.
Conclusions:
The associations between psychopathology (internalizing vs. externalizing severity) varies by different combinations of alcohol, CC, and EC. Further, these relationships may be mediated through ND. Future investigations into the comorbidity between mental disorder symptoms with tobacco and alcohol use should consider use of specific substances as well as their combination.
Keywords: Cigarette, E-cigarette, Alcohol, Nicotine dependence, Internalizing symptoms, Externalizing symptoms
1. Introduction
Tobacco and alcohol are two of the most common substances used in the United States (US) (Bobo & Husten, 2000; Institute, 2007). In 2018, approximately 20.9% of US adults were current conventional cigarette (CC) smokers and 55.3% reported drinking alcohol in the past month (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019; Creamer, Wang, & Babb, 2019; SSAMHSA, 2019). Among individuals with alcohol use disorder, 23.8% also had nicotine dependence and 12.9% of individuals with nicotine dependence also had alcohol use disorder (National Insitute on Drug Abuse, 2018). Concurrent use of CC and alcohol represents a major public health concern because they have been associated with more negative health outcomes such as increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis, head and neck cancers, liver cancer, pancreatitis, and psychiatric comorbidity than the exclusive use of either substance (Adams, 2017; Cross, Lotfipour, & Leslie, 2017; Verplaetse & McKee, 2017). To date, it is unclear whether the factors associated with co-occurring tobacco and alcohol use are specific to CC or extend to electronic cigarettes (EC).
Although dual use of EC and CC is common and increasing in the US (Maglia, Caponnetto, Di Piazza, La Torre, & Polosa, 2018), the trends related to this form of tobacco use with alcohol remain unclear. In 2018, 57.3% and 25.2% of former CC users were engaged in ever-use and current-use of ECs, respectively (Villarroel, Ph, Cha, Ph, Vahratian, & Ph, 2020). Approximately 9.7% of current EC users also engaged in CC use (Villarroel et al., 2020). In 2014, about 16% of current smokers were also current EC users (Schoenborn & Gindi, 2015). Recent studies have reported that current EC users are at an increased risk of harmful alcohol use compared to EC non-users (Hershberger, VanderVeen, Karyadi, & Cyders, 2016; Roberts et al., 2018), with dual CC and EC use resulting in more past-month total drinks compared to exclusive-EC users (Roberts, Verplaetse, Peltier, Moore, Gueorguieva, & McKee, 2020). However, compared to studies of CC use and alcohol, there is far less knowledge regarding the co-occurring use of EC and alcohol. Consequently, there is a need to examine the use of EC, CC, and alcohol, which may be associated with more severe or different risk factors than dual or exclusive use of any of these three substances.
Internalizing (e.g., depression and anxiety) and externalizing [e.g., attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder] psychopathology (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Conway, Green, Kasza, Silveira, Borek, & Kimmel, 2017; Hasin & Grant, 2015; McClernon & Kollins, 2008; Smith, Mazure, & McKee, 2014; Ziedonis et al., 2008) are important mental health factors that have been consistently associated with exclusive use of either CC or alcohol. A meta-analysis reported that current CC smokers had a two-fold increased risk of depression relative to never and former CC users (Luger, Suls, & Weg, 2014). Further, adults with depression are more likely to smoke and are less likely to be successful at quitting than adults without depression (Mathew, Hogarth, Leventhal, Cook, & Hitsman, 2017). Whether this bidirectional association is maintained among EC users is unclear. The relationship between the use of alcohol, CC, and EC, and internalizing and externalizing psychopathology is currently undetermined. Prior studies of the relationship between psychopathology and tobacco products, specifically EC, as well as alcohol typically focus on youth and young adults. These findings indicate that ECs are commonly used with other substances (i.e., CC, alcohol, marijuana and opiates) and associated with mental health symptomatology (i.e., diagnosis of ADHD, PTSD, anxiety, and substance use disorders) (Grant, Lust, Fridberg, King, & Chamberlain, 2019; Hefner, Sollazzo, Mullaney, Coker, & Sofuoglu, 2019; Vallone et al., 2020; Wong, Lin, Piper, Siddiqui, & Buu, 2019). However, it is unclear if these associations are specific to youth and young adults, or if they also occur across adulthood.
This study addresses the aforementioned knowledge gaps by examining the association of lifetime mental disorder symptom severity and past 30-day combinations of CC, EC, and alcohol use. We asked the following questions: (1) is there an association between internalizing/externalizing severity across combinations of CC, EC, and alcohol use in US adults, and (2) is there a difference in severity based on tobacco product type (CC vs. EC)? We expect (1) a significant, positive association between internalizing/externalizing severity across all combinations of CC, EC, and alcohol use. For exploratory aim (2), we expect that this association varies with type and number of tobacco products used (i. e., CC associated with internalizing; EC associated with externalizing/internalizing; CC + EC associated with internalizing/externalizing).
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Study material and participants
Data from 32,320 adults aged 18 years and older participating in the first wave (2013–2014) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study were used (United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health, 2019). PATH is a nationally representative longitudinal cohort study of the civilian, noninstitutionalized adult household population of the US, and as such, participants engaged in all levels of tobacco use (Hyland et al., 2017). The household screener response rate was 54% (United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health, 2019). The weighted response rate among participants was 74% (Conway et al., 2017).
2.2. Study representativeness
Participants with missing data on tobacco and alcohol measures, mental health symptoms, or covariates were not included in the analysis (N = 16,373). Survey respondents of the analytic sample endorsed greater substance use overall, internalizing/externalizing severity, and nicotine dependence (ND) than those not included in the analytic sample. The participants in the analytic sample were more likely to be men, aged 25–54 with lower levels of education and lower annual household income than those who were missing.
2.3. Measures
2.3.1. Current tobacco and alcohol use
Current tobacco and alcohol use was measured as an aggregate variable indicating the degree of past-month use of CC, EC, and alcohol, and was developed from individual current-use items defined according to the National Health Interview Survey (2017) and listed in Supplemental Table 1 (National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013).
The outcome variable was developed as an eight-level categorical variable: (1) alcohol-exclusive; (2) CC-exclusive; (3) EC-exclusive; (4) CC and alcohol; (5) EC and alcohol; (6) CC and EC; (7) alcohol, CC, and EC; and (8) non-use. This variable allowed us to evaluate the relationships between all combinations of alcohol, CC, and EC use and internalizing/externalizing severity, with non-users as a reference group.
2.3.2. Internalizing/externalizing severity
Internalizing and externalizing severity was measured in PATH using the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs—Short Screener (GAIN-SS) (Conway et al., 2017). The GAIN-SS is derived from the full GAIN instrument assessing individuals at risk for mental disorders using a continuous measure of severity. The full GAIN assessment is a reliable and validated biopsychosocial assessment recommended for use in epidemiologic samples (Conway et al., 2017; Dennis, Chan, & Funk, 2006; Garner, Belur, & Dennis, 2013). There was good internal consistency among the internalizing (Cronbach’s α = 0.85) and externalizing (Cronbach’s α 0.80) items in the analytic sample.
Items used to measure internalizing/externalizing symptoms are listed in Supplemental Table 2. Responses were measured across four time periods: past month, 2–12 months, over a year ago, and never. Lifetime internalizing/externalizing scale scores (i.e., participants indicating past month, 2–12 months, or over a year ago) were categorized and treated as ordinal variables with low (0), moderate (1–2), and high (3+) symptom severity. These cut points were previously recommended on the basis of validation analyses of the dimensional measures and have high predictive validity in other samples (Conway et al., 2017; Dennis et al., 2006; Garner et al., 2013). Higher scores indicate increased severity, a greater likelihood for diagnosis with a mental health disorder, and increased need for services (Conway et al., 2017). Internalizing/externalizing severity were highly correlated with one another (r = 0.68, ASE = 0.0051, p < 0.001).
2.3.3. Covariates
The role of nicotine dependence (ND) was included as a potential confounder. Adults with mental health disorders may have higher levels of ND as a result of tobacco product use (Goodwin, Zvolensky, Keyes, & Hasin, 2012; Grant, Hasin, Chou, Stinson, & Dawson, 2004). Similarly, there is a strong association between ND and all levels of alcohol use (Drobes, 2002). People who engage in EC and CC dual use have greater ND than exclusive use of either EC or CC (Jankowski et al., 2019; Rostron, Schroeder, & Ambrose, 2016). Sixteen items [8 from Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (WIDSM): Primary, 3 from WISDM: Secondary, 4 from Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS), 1 from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM): Impaired Control] were used to measure ND and are listed in Supplemental Table 2. These 16 items were recommended to use as a common instrument to assess ND across different kinds of tobacco product users from a differential item function analysis (Strong et al., 2017). The items were summed into one continuous variable ranging from 0 to 76, with higher values indicating greater ND.
Sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, and annual household income were also included as covariates because they are consistently associated with mental health, and tobacco and alcohol use (Ames, Stevens, Chudley, Carlson, Schroeder, Kiros, & Kenneth, 2010; Bizzarri et al., 2016; Cance, Talley, Morgan-Lopez, & Fromme, 2017; Caton, Xie, Drake, & McHugo, 2014; Choi, DiNitto, & Marti, 2015; Colder et al., 2013; Conway et al., 2017; Galea, Ahern, Tracy, & Vlahov, 2007; Hrywna, Bover Manderski, & Delnevo, 2014; Karriker-jaffe, 2013; Keyes et al., 2015; Peiper & Rodu, 2013).
Age, measured in PATH as a seven-level categorical variable, was re-categorized to have uniform distribution with six levels (18–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, and 65 years or older). Education, measured in PATH as a six-level categorical variable, was re-categorized as a five-level categorical variable with a uniform distribution [less than high school, GED/high school graduate, some college (no degree) or Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, and Advanced degree]. Race/ethnicity was measured as a four-level categorical race variable and included information from a separate variable that accounted for Hispanic ethnicity (Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black, Non-Hispanic Other, and Hispanic Multicultural). The significance of the association between these variables and tobacco and alcohol use was tested as a series of unadjusted multinomial logistic regressions (Table 2).
Table 2.
Variable | Alcohol, Cigarette, and E-cigarette |
Cigarette and E-cigarette |
E-cigarette and Alcohol |
Cigarette and Alcohol |
E-cigarette Only |
Cigarette Only |
Alcohol Only |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | |
| |||||||
Internalizing Severity | |||||||
Low | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Moderate | 1.71 (1.14–2.56) | 1.50 (0.96–2.36) | 1.36 (0.89–2.08) | 1.79 (1.52–2.11) | 1.12 (0.71–1.77) | 1.37 (1.10–1.71) | 1.66 (1.36–2.01) |
High | 3.42 (2.48–4.72) | 2.24 (1.63–3.08) | 2.20 (1.57–3.09) | 2.28 (1.97–2.65) | 1.30 (0.89–1.88) | 1.69 (1.42–2.02) | 1.42 (1.20–1.69) |
Externalizing Severity | |||||||
Low | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Moderate | 2.32 (1.59–3.39) | 1.67 (1.15–2.42) | 2.84 (1.91–4.23) | 2.00 (1.68–2.38) | 1.01 (0.67–1.52) | 1.21 (1.01–1.43) | 2.04 (1.70–2.44) |
High | 4.56 (3.31–6.30) | 2.22 (1.61–3.05) | 4.23 (2.84–6.29) | 2.58 (2.19–3.03) | 1.31 (0.89–1.94) | 1.31 (1.11–1.55) | 2.29 (1.91–2.76) |
Nicotine Dependence | |||||||
1.05 (1.05–1.06) | 1.08 (1.07–1.08) | 1.00 (0.99–1.01) | 1.05 (1.04–1.05) | 1.00 (0.99–1.01) | 1.06 (1.06–1.07) | 0.97 (0.96–0.97) | |
Sex | |||||||
Male | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Female | 1.24 (0.98–1.56) | 1.74 (1.35–2.25) | 1.26 (0.94–1.69) | 1.21 (1.06–1.38) | 1.99 (1.45–2.74) | 1.65 (1.43–1.90) | 0.71 (0.61–0.84) |
Age | |||||||
18–24 years old | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
25–34 years old | 1.75 (1.37–2.25) | 3.62 (2.53–5.20) | 1.69 (1.21–2.35) | 2.42 (2.02–2.89) | 1.86 (1.08–3.20) | 2.53 (2.04–3.12) | 1.40 (1.17–1.67) |
35–44 years old | 1.28 (0.87–1.88) | 2.93 (2.00–4.31) | 0.84 (0.55–1.30) | 1.95 (1.57–2.42) | 1.49 (0.89–2.51) | 2.27 (1.81–2.86) | 0.90 (0.72–1.12) |
45–54 years old | 0.57 (0.41–0.79) | 1.78 (1.15–2.75) | 0.69 (0.44–1.10) | 1.55 (1.28–1.87) | 2.01 (1.26–3.21) | 2.25 (1.89–2.68) | 0.76 (0.63–0.93) |
55–64 years old | 0.46 (0.32–0.66) | 1.99 (1.31–3.02) | 0.64 (0.38–1.07) | 1.21 (0.98–1.49) | 1.04 (0.60–1.80) | 2.02 (1.64–2.49) | 0.63 (0.48–0.83) |
65 years or older | 0.16 (0.07–0.35) | 1.42 (0.70–2.88) | 0.31 (0.14–0.66) | 0.60 (0.47–0.76) | 1.03 (0.51–2.11) | 1.90 (1.47–2.47) | 0.47 (0.36–0.61) |
Race | |||||||
White | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Non-Hispanic Black | 0.23 (0.16 0.35) | 0.35 (0.23–0.55) | 0.45 (0.27–0.73) | 0.61 (0.51–0.73) | 0.37 (0.20–0.67) | 0.50 (0.42–0.60) | 0.63 (0.51–0.77) |
Non-Hispanic Other | 0.70 (0.44–1.12) | 0.60 (0.38–0.94) | 0.98 (0.56–1.72) | 0.72 (0.56–0.91) | 1.00 (0.57–1.76) | 0.66 (0.53–0.82) | 0.81 (0.62–1.06) |
Hispanic Multicultural | 0.32 (0.23–0.46) | 0.32 (0.20–0.52) | 0.35 (0.22–0.57) | 0.48 (0.40–0.57) | 0.58 (0.40–0.86) | 0.50 (0.41–0.61) | 0.67 (0.53–0.83) |
Education | |||||||
Less than high school | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
GED/High school | 2.30 (1.61–3.28) | 1.15 (0.75–1.78) | 2.22 (1.16–4.26) | 1.50 (1.24–1.81) | 1.51 (0.90–2.53) | 0.96 (0.80–1.17) | 1.74 (1.39–2.17) |
Some college | 4.79 (3.28–6.99) | 1.72 (1.16–2.56) | 4.75 (2.60–8.67) | 2.13 (1.78–2.56) | 2.31 (1.46–3.64) | 0.96 (0.80–1.15) | 3.58 (2.89–4.43) |
Bachelor’s degree | 4.91 (3.26–7.39) | 1.68 (0.99–2.86) | 5.04 (2.47–10.32) | 2.34 (1.85–2.97) | 1.86 (1.00–3.46) | 0.65 (0.48–0.88) | 7.16 (5.41–9.49) |
Advanced degree | 3.67 (1.98–6.82) | 0.69 (0.28–1.69) | 2.32 (0.62–8.63) | 1.50 (1.07–2.10) | 1.85 (0.75–4.56) | 0.40 (0.27–0.59) | 6.73 (4.80–9.44) |
Income | |||||||
<$10,000 | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
$10,000–24,999 | 1.94 (1.42–2.64) | 1.49 (1.05–2.12) | 1.31 (0.82–2.09) | 1.33 (1.09–1.62) | 1.07 (0.62–1.83) | 1.26 (1.03–1.54) | 1.30 (1.07–1.59) |
$25,000–49,000 | 2.59 (1.85–3.62) | 1.41 (0.98–2.02) | 2.00 (1.41–2.83) | 1.63 (1.36–1.97) | 1.21 (0.77–1.92) | 1.08 (0.89–1.31) | 1.66 (1.35–2.05) |
$50,000–99,999 | 2.95 (2.01–4.32) | 1.33 (0.86–2.05) | 3.03 (2.06–4.46) | 1.98 (1.58–2.48) | 1.82 (1.07–3.08) | 0.90 (0.71–1.14) | 3.04 (2.42–3.82) |
≥$100,000 | 2.88 (1.83–4.53) | 1.06 (0.59–1.91) | 3.37 (2.16–5.24) | 1.72 (1.38–2.14) | 1.33 (0.68–2.62) | 0.53 (0.38–0.72) | 5.07 (3.91–6.57) |
Bolded values indicate estimate significant a p < 0.05
The “none” category is used in reference for the tobacco and alcohol use outcome.
2.4. Statistical analyses
Chi-square tests were used to test for significant differences between each variable. Unadjusted multinomial logistic regression was used to test the association between tobacco and alcohol use and internalizing/externalizing severity. Tests were repeated after adjustment for sex, age, race, education, and annual household income. Two adjusted multinomial regression models were considered: the first model included only internalizing/externalizing severity, adjusting for the correlation between the two factors, while the second model also included ND to determine the degree to which ND explained the association between mental health severity and substance use. Odds ratios (OR) or adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), profiled from estimates of standard error, are reported. All analyses were performed in SAS software, Version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC) and accounted for complex survey design and sampling weight using PROC SURVEYFREQ and PROC SURVEYLOGISTIC. Fay’s method, a variant of balanced repeated replication method, was used to form replication weights in variance estimation in all analyses.
3. Results
3.1. Descriptive statistics
Data from 15,947 participants with complete information were analyzed. Almost one quarter of the population engaged in alcohol-exclusive use (24.0%), 22.4% in CC-exclusive use, and 1.3% in EC-exclusive use (Table 1). Across the different combinations of tobacco and alcohol use, 33.3% engaged in CC and alcohol use, 1.7% engaged in EC and alcohol use, 2.0% engaged in CC and EC, and 3.2% engaged in alcohol, CC, and EC use. Almost half of the sample endorsed high internalizing (47.9%) and high externalizing (44.7%) severity. The mean ND was 37.0 (range 1–76, standard deviation 0.23) for the sample (Table 1).
Table 1.
n (Weighted %) | n (Weighted %) | ||
---|---|---|---|
| |||
Sex * | Internalizing Severity * | ||
Male | 9039 (59.6) | Low | 4310 (28.1) |
Female | 6908 (40.4) | Moderate | 3731 (24.0) |
Age * | High | 7906 (47.9) | |
18–24 years old | 4304 (17.7) | Externalizing Severity * | |
25–34 years old | 3580 (24.3) | Low | 4058 (26.8) |
35–44 years old | 2696 (18.3) | Moderate | 4436 (28.5) |
45–54 years old | 2579 (18.5) | High | 7453 (44.7) |
55–64 years old | 1871 (14.1) | Nicotine Dependence | |
65 years or older | 917 (7.1) | 37.0 (0.23)a | |
Race * | Tobacco and Alcohol Use * | ||
Non-Hispanic White | 10,257 (68.2) | Alcohol only | 3603 (24.0) |
Non-Hispanic Black | 2305 (13.8) | CC only | 3678 (22.4) |
Non-Hispanic Other | 1218 (6.4) | EC only | 219 (1.3) |
Hispanic Multiracial | 2167 (11.7) | CC and Alcohol | 5387 (33.3) |
Education * | EC and Alcohol | 288 (1.7) | |
Less than high school | 2304 (13.4) | CC and EC | 336 (2.0) |
GED/High school graduate | 5385 (35.5) | Alcohol, CC, and EC | 558 (3.2) |
Some college (no degree) or Associate’s degree | 5931 (34.9) | None | 1878 (12.2) |
Bachelor’s degree | 1685 (11.9) | ||
Advanced degree | 642 (4.3) | ||
Annual Household Income * | |||
Less than $10,000 | 3532 (19.5) | ||
$10,000 to $24,999 | 4120 (24.8) | ||
$25,000 to $49,999 | 3746 (24.2) | ||
$50,000 to $99,999 | 2974 (20.2) | ||
$100,000 or more | 1575 (11.4) |
Indicates a significant difference at p < 0.05.
Indicates mean and standard deviation (95% CL for the mean = 36.6–37.5)
3.2. Unadjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis
Compared to subjects with low internalizing severity, those with high internalizing severity were significantly more likely to engage in alcohol, CC, and EC use (OR = 3.42, 95% CI = 2.48–4.72), CC and EC use (OR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.63–3.08), EC and alcohol use (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.57–3.09), CC and alcohol use (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.97–2.65), CC-exclusive use (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.42–2.02), and alcohol-exclusive use (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.20–1.69) than no use. Relative to those with low externalizing severity, subjects with high externalizing severity were more likely than not to engage in every level of tobacco and alcohol use except EC use, especially alcohol, CC, and EC use (OR = 4.56, 95% CI = 3.31–6.30) and EC and alcohol use (OR = 4.23, 95% CI = 2.84–6.29). There were significant, positive associations between ND and alcohol, CC, and EC use (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.05–1.06), CC and EC use (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.07–1.08), CC and alcohol use (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.04–1.05), and CC-exclusive use (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.06–1.07). Females, relative to males, had significantly increased odds for CC and EC use (OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.35–2.25), CC and alcohol use (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.06–1.38), EC-exclusive use (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.45–2.74), and CC-exclusive use (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.43–1.90), except for alcohol-exclusive use (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.61–0.84). There were significant associations by age, race, education, and annual household income (Table 2).
3.3. Adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis
3.3.1. Model 1: Internalizing/externalizing severity
Compared to subjects with low internalizing severity, those with high internalizing severity were significantly more likely to engage in alcohol, CC, and EC use (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.30–3.09), CC and alcohol use (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.30–2.00), and CC-exclusive use (AOR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.13–1.79) than none (Table 3). Participants with moderate internalizing severity, compared to low, were significantly more likely to engage in CC and alcohol use (AOR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.27–1.81), CC-exclusive use (AOR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.01–1.58), and alcohol-exclusive use (AOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.24–1.90) than none. Participants with high externalizing severity, compared to low, had 113% greater odds of alcohol, CC, and EC use (AOR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.36–3.34), 54% greater odds of CC and EC use (AOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.04–2.28), 196% greater odds of EC and alcohol use (AOR = 2.96, 95% CI = 1.82–4.80), 74% greater odds of CC and alcohol use (AOR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.38–2.20), and 69% greater odds of alcohol-exclusive use (AOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.33–2.14) than no use. Participants with moderate externalizing severity, compared to low, were significantly more likely to engage in alcohol, CC, and EC use (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.02–2.40), EC and alcohol use (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI = 1.55–3.46), CC = and alcohol use (AOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.26–1.88), alcohol-exclusive use (AOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.32–1.94) than no use.
Table 3.
Variable | Alcohol, Cigarette, and E-cigarette |
Cigarette and E-cigarette |
E-cigarette and Alcohol |
Cigarette and Alcohol |
E-cigarette Only |
Cigarette Only |
Alcohol Only |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | |
| |||||||
Internalizing Severity | |||||||
Low | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Moderate | 1.37 (0.88–2.13) | 1.23 (0.77–1.98) | 0.98 (0.61–1.56) | 1.52 (1.27–1.81) | 1.03 (0.64–1.67) | 1.26 (1.01–1.58) | 1.53 (1.24–1.90) |
High | 2.01 (1.30–3.09) | 1.46 (0.99–2.14) | 1.20 (0.78–1.83) | 1.61 (1.30–2.00) | 1.00 (0.62–1.61) | 1.42 (1.13–1.79) | 1.21 (0.97–1.51) |
Externalizing Severity | |||||||
Low | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Moderate | 1.56 (1.02–2.40) | 1.33 (0.90–1.97) | 2.32 (1.55–3.46) | 1.54 (1.26–1.88) | 0.88 (0.57–1.37) | 1.04 (0.86–1.25) | 1.60 (1.32–1.94) |
High | 2.13 (1.36–3.34) | 1.54 (1.04–2.28) | 2.96 (1.82–4.80) | 1.74 (1.38–2.20) | 1.15 (0.69–1.93) | 1.04 (0.82–1.32) | 1.69 (1.33–2.14) |
Sex | |||||||
Male | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Female | 1.11 (0.87–1.40) | 1.57 (1.19–2.06) | 1.23 (0.91–1.66) | 1.12 (0.98–1.29) | 2.01 (1.45–2.79) | 1.52 (1.30–1.78) | 0.72 (0.61–0.84) |
Age | |||||||
18–24 years old | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
25–34 years old | 1.72 (1.33–2.23) | 3.95 (2.73–5.71) | 1.70 (1.22–2.39) | 2.44 (2.03–2.93) | 1.97 (1.12–3.47) | 2.74 (2.21–3.40) | 1.21 (0.99–1.47) |
35–44 years old | 1.22 (0.85–1.76) | 3.25 (2.17–4.87) | 0.80 (0.52–1.23) | 1.93 (1.55–2.42) | 1.54 (0.90–2.64) | 2.53 (2.00–3.20) | 0.70 (0.55–0.89) |
45–54 years old | 0.57 (0.41–0.80) | 1.90 (1.20–3.00) | 0.70 (0.43–1.12) | 1.54 (1.27–1.87) | 2.08 (1.28–3.39) | 2.32 (1.92–2.80) | 0.65 (0.53–0.80) |
55–64 years old | 0.48 (0.33–0.70) | 2.13 (1.39–3.28) | 0.68 (0.40–1.17) | 1.23 (0.98–1.54) | 1.11 (0.63–1.94) | 2.07 (1.65–2.60) | 0.55 (0.41–0.73) |
65 years or older | 0.19 (0.09–0.40) | 1.58 (0.76–3.30) | 0.38 (0.17–0.85) | 0.66 (0.50–0.88) | 1.13 (0.53–2.42) | 1.89 (1.41–2.54) | 0.43 (0.32–0.59) |
Race | |||||||
White | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Non-Hispanic Black | 0.32 (0.21–0.48) | 0.36 (0.23–0.57) | 0.64 (0.38–1.08) | 0.73 (0.60–0.88) | 0.40 (0.22–0.73) | 0.44 (0.37–0.53) | 1.00 (0.81–1.25) |
Non-Hispanic Other | 0.59 (0.38–0.93) | 0.60 (0.38–0.94) | 0.89 (0.51–1.56) | 0.69 (0.55–0.88) | 1.06 (0.62–1.81) | 0.72 (0.58–0.89) | 0.64 (0.49–0.84) |
Hispanic | 0.36 (0.25–0.52) | 0.33 (0.20–0.54) | 0.43 (0.26–0.73) | 0.54 (0.44–0.66) | 0.66 (0.44–0.99) | 0.47 (0.38–0.59) | 0.90 (0.71–1.14) |
Multicultural | |||||||
Education | |||||||
Less than high school | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
GED/High school | 1.68 (1.15–2.44) | 0.98 (0.62–1.53) | 1.63 (0.83–3.22) | 1.23 (1.01–1.50) | 1.32 (0.79–2.22) | 0.90 (0.73–1.10) | 1.43 (1.12–1.82) |
Some college | 2.65 (1.77–3.97) | 1.32 (0.85–2.05) | 2.62 (1.39–4.97) | 1.51 (1.23–1.86) | 1.79 (1.12–2.86) | 0.89 (0.72–1.09) | 2.46 (1.94–3.13) |
Bachelor’s degree | 2.48 (1.63–3.77) | 1.25 (0.69–2.28) | 2.25 (1.07–4.72) | 1.50 (1.15–1.96) | 1.31 (0.72–2.40) | 0.63 (0.46–0.87) | 4.13 (3.04–5.62) |
Advanced degree | 2.05 (1.07–3.90) | 0.53 (0.21–1.35) | 1.06 (0.29–3.95) | 0.97 (0.68–1.40) | 1.29 (0.53–3.15) | 0.41 (0.28–0.59) | 3.82 (2.59–5.63) |
Income | |||||||
<$10,000 | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
$10,000–24,999 | 1.78 (1.28–2.48) | 1.28 (0.88–1.85) | 1.22 (0.76–1.97) | 1.25 (1.01–1.56) | 0.95 (0.56–1.61) | 1.12 (0.90–1.40) | 1.26 (1.03–1.54) |
$25,000–49,000 | 2.05 (1.44–2.93) | 1.05 (0.72–1.53) | 1.70 (1.17–2.48) | 1.38 (1.12–1.71) | 0.98 (0.61–1.57) | 0.92 (0.74–1.14) | 1.39 (1.12–1.73) |
$50,000–99,999 | 2.17 (1.46–3.23) | 0.94 (0.59–1.48) | 2.47 (1.62–3.77) | 1.61 (1.24–2.07) | 1.37 (0.81–2.32) | 0.76 (0.59–0.99) | 2.22 (1.74–2.82) |
≥$100,000 | 2.04 (1.26–3.29) | 0.80 (0.43–1.50) | 2.76 (1.72–4.41) | 1.43 (1.11–1.85) | 1.03 (0.51–2.06) | 0.51 (0.36–0.72) | 3.13 (2.33–4.22) |
Bolded values indicate estimate significant a p < 0.05
The “none” category is used in reference for the tobacco and alcohol use outcome.
Participants with high internalizing severity, compared to low, had the greatest odds for alcohol, CC, and EC use rather than no use while adjusting for externalizing severity, sex, age, race, education, and annual household income. Participants with high externalizing severity, compared to low, had the greatest odds for EC and alcohol use rather than no use while adjusting for internalizing severity, sex, age, race, education, and annual household income.
3.3.2. Model 2: internalizing, externalizing, and ND
Compared to subjects with low internalizing severity, those with high internalizing severity were more likely to engage in CC and alcohol use (AOR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.03–1.61) and alcohol-exclusive use (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.05–1.64) than no use (Table 4). Similar associations were found between moderate internalizing severity, relative to low, and CC and alcohol use (AOR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.22–1.77) and alcohol-exclusive use (AOR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.27–1.96) than no use. Participants with high externalizing severity, compared to low, had 79% greater odds for alcohol, CC, and EC use (AOR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.15–2.78), 197% greater odds of EC and alcohol use (AOR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.84–4.81), 53% greater odds of CC and alcohol use (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.21–1.92), and 75% greater odds of alcohol-exclusive use (AOR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.38–2.22) than no use. Subjects with moderate externalizing severity, compared to low, were more likely to engage in EC and alcohol use (AOR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.53–3.43), CC and alcohol use (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.16–1.72), and alcohol-exclusive use (AOR 1.62, 95% CI = 1.33–1.97) than no use when adjusting for ND. ND was significantly associated with all combinations of tobacco and alcohol use, compared to none, except for EC and alcohol use (AOR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.99–1.01) and EC-exclusive use (AOR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.99–1.01).
Table 4.
Variable | Alcohol, Cigarette, and E-cigarette |
Cigarette and E-cigarette |
E-cigarette and Alcohol |
Cigarette and Alcohol |
E-cigarette Only |
Cigarette Only |
Alcohol Only |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI) | |
| |||||||
Internalizing Severity | |||||||
Low | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Moderate | 1.33 (0.85–2.07) | 1.21 (0.74–1.97) | 0.97 (0.61–1.56) | 1.47 (1.22–1.77) | 1.04 (0.64–1.68) | 1.22 (0.96–1.55) | 1.58 (1.27–1.96) |
High | 1.53 (1.00–2.36) | 1.02 (0.68–1.53) | 1.19 (0.78–1.81) | 1.29 (1.03–1.61) | 1.00 (0.62–1.60) | 1.08 (0.85–1.38) | 1.31 (1.05–1.64) |
Externalizing Severity | |||||||
Low | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Moderate | 1.42 (0.93–2.17) | 1.16 (0.77–1.74) | 2.29 (1.53–3.43) | 1.41 (1.16–1.72) | 0.87 (0.56–1.37) | 0.92 (0.76–1.13) | 1.62 (1.33–1.97) |
High | 1.79 (1.15–2.78) | 1.23 (0.82–1.85) | 2.97 (1.84–4.81) | 1.53 (1.21–1.92) | 1.16 (0.69–1.95) | 0.88 (0.70–1.11) | 1.75 (1.38–2.22) |
Nicotine | |||||||
Dependence | 1.06 (1.05–1.07) | 1.08 (1.07–1.09) | 1.00 (0.99–1.01) | 1.05 (1.04–1.05) | 1.00 (0.99–1.01) | 1.06 (1.05–1.06) | 0.97 (0.97–0.98) |
Sex | |||||||
Male | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Female | 1.17 (0.92–1.48) | 1.65 (1.26–2.16) | 1.22 (0.91–1.65) | 1.17 (1.01–1.35) | 2.02 (1.46–2.80) | 1.58 (1.34–1.86) | 0.71 (0.60–0.83) |
Age | |||||||
18–24 years old | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
25–34 years old | 1.30 (1.01–1.68) | 2.76 (1.92–3.97) | 1.74 (1.23–2.46) | 1.96 (1.63–2.37) | 2.01 (1.12–3.60) | 2.11 (1.69–2.63) | 1.32 (1.09–1.61) |
35–44 years old | 0.76 (0.53–1.09) | 1.74 (1.15–2.63) | 0.82 (0.53–1.29) | 1.34 (1.07–1.68) | 1.58 (0.90–2.76) | 1.62 (1.28–2.06) | 0.82 (0.64–1.04) |
45–54 years old | 0.33 (0.24–0.45) | 0.92 (0.60–1.42) | 0.72 (0.44–1.16) | 1.00 (0.83–1.20) | 2.12 (1.31–3.43) | 1.38 (1.13–1.68) | 0.77 (0.62–0.95) |
55–64 years old | 0.28 (0.19–0.41) | 1.06 (0.67–1.68) | 0.70 (0.41–1.20) | 0.81 (0.64–1.03) | 1.12 (0.64–1.98) | 1.26 (0.99–1.60) | 0.65 (0.48–0.86) |
65 years or older | 0.12 (0.06–0.27) | 0.90 (0.43–1.92) | 0.39 (0.17–0.89) | 0.48 (0.36–0.64) | 1.16 (0.53–2.53) | 1.31 (0.96–1.77) | 0.51 (0.37–0.70) |
Race | |||||||
White | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
Non-Hispanic Black | 0.40 (0.26–0.61) | 0.48 (0.30–0.77) | 0.64 (0.38–1.08) | 0.87 (0.71–1.06) | 0.40 (0.22–0.73) | 0.55 (0.45–0.67) | 0.95 (0.76–1.19) |
Non-Hispanic Other | 0.69 (0.44–1.09) | 0.75 (0.48–1.18) | 0.89 (0.51–1.57) | 0.79 (0.62–1.00) | 1.06 (0.62–1.83) | 0.85 (0.67–1.08) | 0.63 (0.48–0.83) |
Hispanic Multicultural | 0.55 (0.38–0.81) | 0.57 (0.35–0.94) | 0.43 (0.25–0.73) | 0.77 (0.62–0.95) | 0.65 (0.43–1.00) | 0.73 (0.58–0.91) | 0.79 (0.62–1.01) |
Education | |||||||
Less than high school | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
GED/High school | 1.82 (1.24–2.66) | 1.10 (0.70–1.71) | 1.60 (0.82–3.15) | 1.31 (1.07–1.60) | 1.31 (0.78–2.20) | 0.97 (0.78–1.20) | 1.39 (1.09–1.78) |
Some college | 3.41 (2.26–5.14) | 1.77 (1.13–2.76) | 2.55 (1.33–4.87) | 1.82 (1.46–2.25) | 1.79 (1.12–2.85) | 1.09 (0.87–1.37) | 2.23 (1.73–2.85) |
Bachelor’s degree | 4.40 (2.83–6.85) | 2.48 (1.37–4.52) | 2.16 (1.00–4.67) | 2.32 (1.76–3.06) | 1.32 (0.72–2.40) | 1.04 (0.75–1.46) | 3.33 (2.43–4.56) |
Advanced degree | 3.98 (2.09–7.59) | 1.16 (0.46–2.92) | 1.02 (0.27–3.84) | 1.60 (1.11–2.31) | 1.29 (0.52–3.19) | 0.70 (0.48–1.03) | 3.02 (2.02–4.52) |
Income | |||||||
<$10,000 | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference | Reference |
$10,000–24,999 | 1.86 (1.34–2.58) | 1.39 (0.96–2.01) | 1.22 (0.75–1.97) | 1.30 (1.05–1.61) | 0.94 (0.56–1.59) | 1.18 (0.95–1.46) | 1.26 (1.02–1.55) |
$25,000–49,000 | 2.32 (1.62–3.32) | 1.27 (0.86–1.88) | 1.69 (1.16–2.47) | 1.52 (1.24–1.87) | 0.96 (0.60–1.54) | 1.04 (0.85–1.29) | 1.37 (1.10–1.70) |
$50,000–99,999 | 2.45 (1.64–3.67) | 1.12 (0.71–1.78) | 2.44 (1.59–3.74) | 1.76 (1.38–2.25) | 1.35 (0.80–2.28) | 0.86 (0.67–1.10) | 2.15 (1.68–2.76) |
≥$100,000 | 2.57 (1.56–4.25) | 1.09 (0.57–2.08) | 2.74 (1.70–4.42) | 1.74 (1.34–2.26) | 1.02 (0.51–2.03) | 0.65 (0.45–0.92) | 2.87 (2.12–3.89) |
Bolded values indicate estimate significant a p < 0.05
The “none” category is used in reference for the tobacco and alcohol use outcome.
Participants with high internalizing severity, compared to low, had the greatest odds for alcohol-exclusive use rather than no use while adjusting for externalizing severity, ND, sex, age, race, education, and annual household income. Participants with high externalizing severity, compared to low, had the greatest odds for EC and alcohol use rather than no use while adjusting for internalizing severity, ND, sex, age, race, education, and annual household income.
Additional models compared results across all categories of reference groups to establish differences for each category of tobacco/alcohol use (Supplemental Table 3). All significant associations between internalizing/externalizing severity and tobacco and alcohol combinations were significantly lower when referencing alcohol, CC, and EC as well as EC and alcohol use. Conversely, significant positive associations were found between internalizing/externalizing severity and tobacco and alcohol combinations when referencing CC and EC use, EC-exclusive, and CC-exclusive. Results were mixed when referencing CC and alcohol use, and alcohol-exclusive use.
4. Discussion
Our study is one of the first to examine the relationships between internalizing/externalizing severity and combinations of CC, EC, and alcohol use across adulthood. There were three major results. First, strong, positive associations with internalizing/externalizing severity at various levels of CC, EC, and alcohol use were detected. Overall, internalizing severity was more strongly associated with CC and alcohol use as well as alcohol-exclusive use while externalizing severity was more strongly associated with EC and alcohol use when accounting for ND. Second, the relationship between externalizing severity with EC use is dependent on alcohol being used with EC. Alcohol was significantly associated with psychopathology when EC was included. Third, ND may mediate the relationship between internalizing/externalizing severity and various levels of CC, EC, and alcohol use.
4.1. Patterns of tobacco and alcohol use vary by internalizing/externalizing severity
We detected specific patterns of association between tobacco and alcohol use with internalizing/externalizing severity. Specifically, high internalizing severity had a higher magnitude of association with CC and alcohol use as well as alcohol-exclusive use. In contrast, externalizing severity was more strongly associated with EC and alcohol use. These results expand on recent positive associations that were detected between mental disorder symptoms and exclusive use of tobacco products in adults (Conway et al., 2017). Specifically, the presence of multiple mental disorder symptoms (i.e., higher severity) was generally associated with use of more than one substance, with the exception of alcohol. To date, individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders have been reported to have a more severe course of illness, health and social consequences, more difficulties when seeking and in treatment, or worse treatment outcomes than people with a single disorder (Morisano, Babor, & Robaina, 2014). Additionally, tobacco use has been reported to be higher among people with mental health problems (e.g., major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, schizophrenia, and/or antisocial personality/conduct disorder) (Andreas, Lauritzen, & Nordfjaern, 2015; Bandiera et al., 2015; Smith et al., 2014). These results suggest that patterns, rather than a dose–response, of tobacco and alcohol use are associated with internalizing/externalizing severity and require further investigation.
4.2. EC use associated with externalizing severity with co-occurring alcohol use
Internalizing/externalizing severity were not significantly associated with EC-exclusive use. This is inconsistent with previous work, perhaps due to differences in defining EC use (Conway et al., 2017). Specifically, we expanded our study of “EC use” to include a commonly occurring form of tobacco use-dual use of EC and CC. Our results provide a more detailed and nuanced description of the relationship between internalizing/externalizing psychopathology and EC use by parsing out co-occurring CC and alcohol use from EC.
Concurrent EC and alcohol use, however, was significantly associated with externalizing severity. Further, compared to low externalizing severity, high and moderate externalizing severity showed stronger association with alcohol use of any kind (i.e., alcohol, CC, and EC use; EC and alcohol use; CC and alcohol use; and alcohol-exclusive use). This association between externalizing and alcohol is consistent with prior studies (Carragher, Krueger, Eaton, & Slade, 2015; Eaton, Rodriguez-Seijas, Carragher, & Krueger, 2015; Krueger, 1999), and this association remains when ECs are used with alcohol. This finding builds upon previous work that has established more harmful alcohol use with EC use in that externalizing symptoms are associated with this pattern of use. More research is needed to better understand the relationship between different combinations of tobacco and alcohol, including EC, and psychopathology.
4.3. ND may mediate the relationship between internalizing/externalizing severity and current tobacco and alcohol use in adults
The magnitude of the associations between internalizing/externalizing severity and levels of tobacco/alcohol use were reduced, although generally remained significant, when ND was included. The associations between internalizing severity and alcohol, CC, and EC use and CC-exclusive use as well as externalizing severity and CC and EC use were no longer statistically significant. ND may explain more of the relationship between internalizing severity and alcohol, CC, and EC use as well as CC-exclusive use. Previous work has indicated that externalizing behaviors act as a precursor or factor involved in substance use especially alcohol use (Carragher et al., 2015; Eaton et al., 2015; Krueger, 1999). Therefore, the relationship between externalizing severity and alcohol use in adults, whether exclusive or with tobacco, is expected to be mediated through ND. In an ad hoc mediation analysis (Rosseel, 2012), ND was determined to be a significant mediator between internalizing/externalizing and tobacco and alcohol use. We also included a test for SUD severity (GAIN-SS) as a mediator in models including ND since it measures broader substance use behavior, including alcohol. However, no significant direct or indirect effect of SUD was detected. As mediation is inherently a causal hypothesis, we recommend future researchers to confirm this with a longitudinal analysis to accurately model a mediation pathway in context of the transactional effect between tobacco initiation and ND development.
4.4. Strengths and limitations
These results should be interpreted while considering the following points. First, these data were collected in 2013–2014, so these analyses do not capture more recent EC products (i.e., pod-mods). Consequently, these findings may not be generalizable to the current generation of EC devices. Second, the analytic sample size was reduced from the Wave 1 sample after removing participants with missing data. Many participants (N = 13,865) were removed due to a skip pattern identified for the ND items used to calculate the composite ND item. If a participant was not a current tobacco user, a former 12-month tobacco user, or a current experimental tobacco user, they were not asked the ND items. ND is contingent upon tobacco initiation (Maes et al., 2004); therefore, it was inappropriate to code these missing observations as 0. Therefore, there is systematic bias introduced; however, results from sensitivity analyses did not demonstrate differences that would alter the overall study conclusions. Third, use of self-reported data has the potential to introduce misclassification bias, which may underestimate the magnitude of associations. However, this would lead to an attenuation of effect sizes, rather than an overestimation. Fourth, the GAIN-SS measures internalizing/externalizing symptom severity rather than psychiatric diagnoses. We recognize use of symptom data as a strength as we are more likely to capture true rates of mental health disorders without relying on disease-specific diagnoses. There is growing support for the use of subthreshold or transdiagnostic symptoms over traditional diagnoses to better explain the high rates of comorbidity among common mental disorders, particularly when characterizing population-based samples (Rodriguez-Seijas, Stohl, Hasin, & Eaton, 2015). Therefore, these results represent the full distribution of severity across several mental health domains. Fifth, to answer our research questions this study focused on current CC, EC, and alcohol use, and ND. We were unable to determine if ND was due to the CC or EC use or another tobacco product that was not included in these analyses. Future studies are encouraged to explore direct associations with other tobacco products and ND. Sixth, by using only data from Wave 1, direction of causation cannot be determined and future longitudinal studies are needed.
5. Conclusions
Internalizing and externalizing severity was strongly associated with multiple levels of CC, EC, and alcohol use in this study. The magnitude of association varied by the tobacco product used. Overall, internalizing severity was more strongly associated with CC and alcohol use as well as alcohol-exclusive use while externalizing severity was more strongly associated with EC and alcohol use when accounting for ND. Alcohol is responsible for the externalizing psychopathology when EC is included. The magnitudes of these associations were reduced when ND was included in the model, indicating that ND likely mediates the association between internalizing/externalizing severity and current tobacco and alcohol use. Future work is encouraged to investigate the different patterns of tobacco and alcohol use since our results suggest patterns of use rather than a dose–response relationship between tobacco and alcohol use and internalizing/externalizing severity.
Supplementary Material
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Ms. Dawn Thiselton who assisted in the proof-reading and editing of the manuscript. This publication was supported by 5R01AA015416–09, NIAAA, United States.
Footnotes
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Appendix A. Supplementary data
Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106890.
References
- Adams S (2017). Psychopharmacology of tobacco and alcohol comorbidity: A review of current evidence. Current Addiction Reports, 4(1), 25–34. 10.1007/s40429-017-0129-z. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). DOI: 10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- Ames SC, Stevens SR, Chudley E, Carlson JM, Schroeder DR, Kiros G, …Kenneth P (2010). Students : Alcohol and Tobacco Use The Association of Alcohol Consumption with Tobacco Use in Black and White College Students. 6084, 1230–1244. DOI: 10.3109/10826080903554192. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Andreas JB, Lauritzen G, & Nordfjaern T (2015). Co-occurrence between mental distress and poly-drug use: A ten year prospective study of patients from substance abuse treatment. Addictive Behaviors, 48, 71–78. 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.05.001 [doi]. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bandiera FC, Anteneh B, Le T, Delucchi K, Guydish J, & Li S (2015). Tobacco-related mortality among persons with mental health and substance abuse problems. PloS One, 10(3), e0120581. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bizzarri JV, Casetti V, Panzani P, Unterhauser J, Mulas S, Fanolla A, et al. (2016). Risky use and misuse of alcohol and cigarettes in psychiatric inpatients: A screening questionnaire study. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 70, 9–16. 10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.05.011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bobo JK, & Husten C (2000). Sociocultural influences on smoking and drinking. Alcohol Research & Health : The Journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 24(4), 225–232. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15986717. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cance JD, Talley AE, Morgan-Lopez A, & Fromme K (2017). Longitudinal conjoint patterns of alcohol and tobacco use throughout emerging adulthood. Substance Use & Misuse, 52(3), 373–382. 10.1080/10826084.2016.1228677. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Carragher N, Krueger RF, Eaton NR, & Slade T (2015). Disorders without borders: Current and future directions in the meta-structure of mental disorders. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 50(3), 339–350. 10.1007/s00127-014-1004-z. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Caton CLM, Xie H, Drake RE, & McHugo G (2014). Gender differences in psychotic disorders with concurrent substance use. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 10(4), 177–186. 10.1080/15504263.2014.961882. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults in the United States. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/adult_data/cig_smoking/index.htm#:~:text=In 2018%2C nearly 14 of,with a smoking-related disease.
- Choi NG, DiNitto DM, & Marti CN (2015). Alcohol and other substance use, mental health treatment use, and perceived unmet treatment need: Comparison between baby boomers and older adults. The American Journal on Addictions, 24(4), 299–307. 10.1111/ajad.v24.410.1111/ajad.12225. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Colder CR, Scalco M, Trucco EM, Read JP, Lengua LJ, Wieczorek WF, et al. (2013). Prospective associations of internalizing and externalizing problems and their co-occurrence with early adolescent substance use. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 41(4), 667–677. 10.1007/s10802-012-9701-0. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Conway KP, Green VR, Kasza KA, Silveira ML, Borek N, Kimmel HL, et al. (2017). Co-occurrence of tobacco product use, substance use, and mental health problems among adults: Findings from Wave 1 (2013–2014) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 177, 104–111. https://doi.org/S0376-8716(17)30222-3 [pii]. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Creamer MR, Wang TW, Babb S, et al. (2019). Tobacco Product Use and Cessation Indicators Among Adults — United States, 2018. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6845a2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cross SJ, Lotfipour S, & Leslie FM (2017). Mechanisms and genetic factors underlying co-use of nicotine and alcohol or other drugs of abuse. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 43(2), 171–185. 10.1080/00952990.2016.1209512 [doi]. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dennis ML, Chan YF, & Funk RR (2006). Development and validation of the GAIN Short Screener (GSS) for internalizing, externalizing and substance use disorders and crime/violence problems among adolescents and adults. The American Journal on Addictions, 15 Suppl 1, 80–91. https://doi.org/G007886P85267424 [pii]. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Drobes DJ (2002). Concurrent alcohol and tobacco dependence. Mechanisms and Treatment. https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh26-2/136-142.htm. [Google Scholar]
- Eaton NR, Rodriguez-Seijas C, Carragher N, & Krueger RF (2015). Transdiagnostic factors of psychopathology and substance use disorders: A review. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 50(2), 171–182. 10.1007/s00127-014-1001-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Galea S, Ahern J, Tracy M, & Vlahov D (2007). Neighborhood Income and Income Distribution and the Use of Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Marijuana. American journal of preventive medicine Vol. 32(6 Suppl), pp. S195–202. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2007.04.003. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Garner BR, Belur VK, & Dennis ML (2013). The GAIN Short Screener (GSS) as a Predictor of Future Arrest or Incarceration Among Youth Presenting to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment. Substance Abuse : Research and Treatment, 7, 199–208. 10.4137/SART.S13152. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Goodwin RD, Zvolensky MJ, Keyes KM, & Hasin DS (2012). Mental disorders and cigarette use among adults in the United States. The American Journal on Addictions, 21(5), 416–423. 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2012.00263.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grant BF, Hasin DS, Chou SP, Stinson FS, & Dawson DA (2004). Nicotine dependence and psychiatric disorders in the United States: Results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions. Archives of General Psychiatry, 61(11), 1107–1115. 10.1001/archpsyc.61.11.1107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grant JE, Lust K, Fridberg DJ, King AC, & Chamberlain SR (2019). E-cigarette use (vaping) is associated with illicit drug use, mental health problems, and impulsivity in university students. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry : Official Journal of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists, 31(1), 27–35. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hasin DS, & Grant BF (2015). The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) Waves 1 and 2: Review and summary of findings. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 50(11), 1609–1640. 10.1007/s00127-015-1088-0. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hefner KR, Sollazzo A, Mullaney S, Coker KL, & Sofuoglu M (2019). E-cigarettes, alcohol use, and mental health: Use and perceptions of e-cigarettes among college students, by alcohol use and mental health status. Addictive Behaviors, 91, 12–20. 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.10.040. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hershberger AR, VanderVeen JD, Karyadi KA, & Cyders MA (2016). Transitioning from cigarettes to electronic cigarettes increases alcohol consumption. Substance Use & Misuse, 51(14), 1838–1845. 10.1080/10826084.2016.1197940. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hrywna M, Bover Manderski MT, & Delnevo CD (2014). Sex differences in the association of psychological distress and tobacco use. American Journal of Health Behavior, 38(4), 570–576. 10.5993/AJHB.38.4.10. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hyland A, Ambrose BK, Conway KP, Borek N, Lambert E, Carusi C, et al. (2017). Design and methods of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. Tobacco Control, 26(4), 371–378. 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-052934. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders. 2018. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/common-comorbidities-substance-use-disorders/what-are-some-approaches-to-diagnosis. [PubMed]
- Jankowski M, Krzystanek M, Zejda JE, Majek P, Lubanski J, Lawson JA, et al. (2019). E-Cigarettes are more addictive than traditional cigarettes-A study in highly educated young people. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(13). 10.3390/ijerph16132279. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Karriker-jaffe KJ (2013). Neighborhood socioeconomic status and substance use by U. S. adults. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 133(1), 212–221. 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.04.033. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Keyes KM, Vo T, Wall MM, Caetano R, Suglia SF, Martins SS, et al. (2015). Racial/ethnic differences in use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana: Is there a cross-over from adolescence to adulthood? Social Science & Medicine, 124, 132–141. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.11.035. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Krueger RF (1999). The structure of common mental disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56(10), 921–926. 10.1001/archpsyc.56.10.921. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Luger TM, Suls J, & Weg M. W. Vander. (2014). How robust is the association between smoking and depression in adults? A meta-analysis using linear mixed-effects models. Addictive Behaviors, 39(10), 1418–1429. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.05.011 [doi]. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Maes HH, Sullivan PF, Bulik CM, Neale MC, Prescott CA, Eaves LJ, et al. (2004). A twin study of genetic and environmental influences on tobacco initiation, regular tobacco use and nicotine dependence. Psychological Medicine, 34(7), 1251–1261. 10.1017/S0033291704002405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Maglia M, Caponnetto P, Di Piazza J, La Torre D, & Polosa R (2018). Dual use of electronic cigarettes and classic cigarettes: A systematic review. Addiction Research &Theory, 26(4), 330–338. 10.1080/16066359.2017.1388372. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- Mathew AR, Hogarth L, Leventhal AM, Cook JW, & Hitsman B (2017). Cigarette smoking and depression comorbidity: Systematic review and proposed theoretical model. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 112(3), 401–412. 10.1111/add.13604. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McClernon FJ, & Kollins SH (2008). ADHD and smoking: From genes to brain to behavior. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1141, 131–147. 10.1196/annals.1441.016. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Morisano D, Babor TF, & Robaina KA (2014). Co-occurrence of substance use disorders with other psychiatric disorders: Implications for treatment services. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 31(1), 5–25. 10.2478/nsad-2014-0002. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). National Health Interview Survey. [Google Scholar]
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders. 2018. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/common-comorbidities-substance-use-disorders/what-are-some-approaches-to-diagnosis. [PubMed]
- Peiper N, & Rodu B (2013). Evidence of sex differences in the relationship between current tobacco use and past-year serious psychological distress: 2005–2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 48(8), 1261–1271. 10.1007/s00127-012-0644-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Roberts W, Verplaetse T, Peltier MKR, Moore KE, Gueorguieva R, & McKee SA (2020). Prospective association of e-cigarette and cigarette use with alcohol use in two waves of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health. Addiction (Abingdon, England). DOI: 10.1111/add.14980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Roberts W, Moore KE, Peltier MR, Verplaetse TL, Oberleitner L, Hacker R, et al. (2018). Electronic cigarette use and risk of harmful alcohol consumption in the U.S Population. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 42(12), 2385–2393. 10.1111/acer.2018.42.issue-1210.1111/acer.13889. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rodriguez-Seijas C, Stohl M, Hasin DS, & Eaton NR (2015). Transdiagnostic factors and mediation of the relationship between perceived racial discrimination and mental disorders. JAMA Psychiatry, 72(7), 706–713. 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.0148 [doi]. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rosseel Y (2012). lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling. Journal of Statistical Software, 1(2), 2012. https://www.jstatsoft.org/v048/i02. [Google Scholar]
- Rostron BL, Schroeder MJ, & Ambrose BK (2016). Dependence symptoms and cessation intentions among US adult daily cigarette, cigar, and e-cigarette users, 2012–2013. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 814. 10.1186/s12889-016-3510-2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). (n.d.). Table 2.1B—Tobacco Product and Alcohol Use in Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month among Persons Aged 12 or Older, by Age Group: Percentages, 2018 and 2019. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/NSDUHDetailedTabs2018R2/NSDUHDetTabsSect2pe2018.htm#tab2-1b.
- Schoenborn CA, & Gindi RM (2015). Electronic cigarette use among adults: United States, 2014. NCHS Data Brief, 217, 1–8. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Smith PH, Mazure CM, & McKee SA (2014). Smoking and mental illness in the U. S. population. Tobacco Control, 23(e2), e147–53. 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2013-051466 [doi] [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Strong DR, Pearson J, Ehlke S, Kirchner T, Abrams D, Taylor K, et al. (2017). Indicators of dependence for different types of tobacco product users: Descriptive findings from Wave 1 (2013–2014) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 178, 257–266. 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.05.010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Public-Use Files. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2020–10-21. 10.3886/ICPSR36498.v11. [DOI]
- Vallone DM, Cuccia AF, Briggs J, Xiao H, Schillo BA, & Hair EC (2020). Electronic cigarette and JUUL use among adolescents and young adults. JAMA Pediatrics. 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.5436. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Verplaetse TL, & McKee SA (2017). An overview of alcohol and tobacco/nicotine interactions in the human laboratory. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 43(2), 186–196. 10.1080/00952990.2016.1189927. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Villarroel MA, Ph D, Cha AE, Ph D, Vahratian A, & Ph D (2020). Electronic Cigarette Use Among U. S. Adults, 2018. 365, 1–8. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wong S-W, Lin H-C, Piper ME, Siddiqui A, & Buu A (2019). Measuring characteristics of e-cigarette consumption among college students. Journal of American College Health: J of ACH, 67(4), 338–347. 10.1080/07448481.2018.1481075. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ziedonis D, Hitsman B, Beckham JC, Zvolensky M, Adler LE, Audrain-McGovern J, et al. (2008). Tobacco use and cessation in psychiatric disorders: National Institute of Mental Health report. Nicotine & Tobacco Research: Official Journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 10(12), 1691–1715. 10.1080/14622200802443569. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.