The sociodemographic patterning of opposition to raising taxes on tobacco and restricting tobacco advertisements in Argentina

Impacto sanitario de la prohibición total de publicidades de tabaco en argentina

Health impact of the total ban on advertising of tobacco productsThe objective was to estimate the health impact of the total ban on advertising of tobacco products in terms of avoided cardiovascular events in those over 35 years of age in Argentina.The Cardiovascular Disease Policy Model (CVDPM) was used, which is a Markov simulation model used to represent and project mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the population aged 35 or over. It constitutes a demographic-epidemiological model, which represents the population between 35 and 95 years of age and uses a logistic regression model based on the Framingham equation to estimate the annual incidence of cardiovascular disease. We assumed that implementing a complete ban on the advertising of tobacco products would lead to a 9% reduction in tobacco consumption.The complete ban on advertising could prevent 15,164 deaths over a period of 10 years, of which 2610 would be the result of coronary heart disease and 747 due to stroke. These reductions would mean an annual decrease of 0.46% of total deaths, 0.60% of deaths from coronary heart disease and 0.33% in deaths from stroke. In addition, during the same period, it would avoid 6630 acute myocardial infarctions and 2851 strokes (reductions of 1.35% and 0.40%, respectively).We hope that these findings might contribute to the strengthening of sanitary tobacco control policies in Argentina based on the remarkable benefits of banning the advertising of tobacco products in full and in line with current global recommendations.

Trends in the sequence of initiation of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among adolescents in Argentina and Chile from 2001 to 2017

BACKGROUND

Variation in drug policies, norms, and substance use over time and across countries may affect the normative sequences of adolescent substance use initiation. We estimated relative and absolute time-varying associations between prior alcohol and tobacco use and adolescent marijuana initiation in Argentina and Chile. Relative measures quantify the magnitude of the associations, whereas absolute measures quantify excess risk.

METHODS

We analyzed repeated, cross-sectional survey data from the National Surveys on Drug Use Among Secondary School Students in Argentina (2001-2014) and Chile (2001-2017). Participants included 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students (N = 680,156). Linear regression models described trends over time in the average age of first use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Logistic regression models were used to estimate time-varying risk ratios and risk differences of the associations between prior alcohol and tobacco use and current-year marijuana initiation.

RESULTS

Average age of marijuana initiation increased and then decreased in Argentina and declined in Chile. In both countries, the relative associations between prior tobacco use and marijuana initiation weakened amid declining rates of tobacco use; e.g., in Argentina, the risk ratio was 19.9 (95% CI: 9.0-30.8) in 2001 and 11.6 (95% CI: 9.0-13.2) in 2014. The relative association between prior alcohol use and marijuana initiation weakened Chile, but not in Argentina. On the contrary, risk differences (RD) increased substantially across both relationships and countries, e.g., in Argentina, the RD for tobacco was 3% (95% CI: 0.02-0.03) in 2001 and 12% (95% CI: 0.11-0.13) in 2014.

CONCLUSION

Diverging trends in risk ratios and risk differences highlight the utility of examining multiple measures of association. Variation in the strength of the associations over time and place suggests the influence of environmental factors. Increasing risk differences indicate alcohol and tobacco use may be important targets for interventions to reduce adolescent marijuana use.

[Exposure to point-of-sale tobacco displays in Argentina: evidence from the 2013 National Risk Factor Survey]

OBJECTIVE:

To describe the population that reports to have visited tobacco points of sale (POS) in Argentina and their perception of tobacco advertising.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We used data from the 2013 National Risk Factor Survey.

RESULTS:

We included 31 167 respondents (96% of the total) who attended a store that sells cigarettes in the previous 30 days. Overall, 54.1% (67.3% of current smokers, 55.1% of former smokers and 49% of non smokers) referred having seen tobacco advertising at the POS. Males (OR=1.2) and current smokers (OR=1.9 vs. non smokers) were more likely to report having seen tobacco advertising at the POS. Those who were exposed to second hand smoke in bars and restaurants (OR=1.2) were also more likely to have seen advertising. We found that younger people (age 18 - 24) were more likely to be exposed (OR=2.8 vs older than 65). Among smokers, those who referred to have seen the advertising were more likely to have tried to quit smoking during the previous year.

CONCLUSIONS:

It is important to regulate advertising at the POS to limit exposure, particularly among young people.