Campus tobacco control policies and cessation interventions in college students: a commentary calling for research and action to address tobacco-related health disparities

Attitudes, Behaviors, and Perceptions of Students Vaping in Three Mexican Universities

The increase in the popularity and use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has consistently risen worldwide and has become associated with adverse health outcomes. This study has identified the attitudes and perceptions of undergraduate students who vape in three universities in Mexico. A cross-sectional study involving 495 participants was conducted using a survey from October to December 2023. Three universities in different states in Mexico collaborated with colleges in Yucatan, Durango, and Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Descriptive statistics include frequencies and percentages, and four logistic regression models were employed. In the sample, 31% and 17.54% of participants reported smoking and vaping, respectively. Students who reported vaping in the last month reported that their first experience with vaping was at an average of 17.3 years of age, and of those, 71.26% (n = 62) reported having vaped for over 100 days, while the remaining 38% reported vaping for between 2 and 100 days. Students from Veracruz and Yucatan began vaping at a younger age than in the central and northern regions. There is a need to educate students about the dangers of the chemicals in the liquids they use, the secondary exposure vapers, and the health dangers they pose.

Engaging Students in Advancing Campus Tobacco-Free Policies: A Qualitative Study of California Community Colleges' Efforts

Introduction

Tobacco use remains a serious problem for young adults. Given the large number of young adults attending college, a tobacco-free campus is one strategy to reduce tobacco use. Young adult engagement is recognized as a common strategic practice in tobacco control policy efforts, especially in changing social norms around tobacco use. Community colleges can leverage and engage students in adoption of campus 100% tobacco-free policies. This qualitative study examines the importance of student engagement in advancing 100% tobacco-free policies in community colleges and identifies strategies for campuses to involve students in such efforts.

Methods

We selected 12 community colleges and conducted key informant interviews with campus and community-based organizations that were involved in campus policy adoption efforts. We conducted 33 semistructured interviews and transcribed, coded, and analyzed them by using a thematic analytic framework with inductive and deductive approaches to examine student engagement processes.

Results

Community colleges represented campuses with (n = 6) and without (n = 6) tobacco-free policy and varied by geography (urban vs rural) and student population size. Three main themes emerged: 1) no "wrong door" for students to engage in tobacco control work, 2) a myriad of ways for students to be involved in policy adoption, and 3) benefits of student engagement.

Conclusion

We found that students are doers, allies, and champions in adoption of 100% campus tobacco-free policy. Colleges should leverage their campuses' most important assets - students - to be agents of change and to involve them in the full spectrum of interventions and advocacy.

2021 Year in Review: E-Cigarettes, Hookah Use, and Vaping Lung Injuries During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and hookah smoking have gained tremendous popularity over the past decade. With the constantly evolving e-cigarette market and potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on users of these tobacco products, research is needed to assess the prevalence and safety of these devices as well as potential public health implications and cessation tools. For this year in review, PubMed was searched from January 2021-December 14, 2021, for articles related to e-cigarettes, vaping-related lung injury, and hookah smoking. Relevant articles addressing the objectives were included in this review. This review focused primarily on articles based on United States populations. Gray literature and nonpublished articles were not included in this review. The 2020 pandemic resulted in a decline in e-cigarette usage among youth (potentially due to the COVID-19 pandemic); however, recent research in 2021 suggests that e-cigarette usage is increasing again among youth. Conflicting evidence exists for e-cigarettes and the risk of COVID-19 infection, but biological plausibility suggests that e-cigarette users are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection and more severe COVID-19 infection compared to non-e-cigarette users. Hookah smoking has remained stable across the past several years and remains a primarily social activity among youth. New e-cigarette devices are constantly emerging, resulting in an increased demand to understand the safety of these devices. Additionally, hookah smoking continues to be a concerning public health issue with the increase in hookah bars and venues coupled with lack of policy regulations for hookah smoking.

Tobacco Use and Cessation Among College Students — China, 2021

What is already known about this topic?

Previous studies about tobacco use among college students in China were conducted at the school level or city level, with fewer than 5,000 students participating.

What is added by this report?

In 2021, China CDC conducted a national tobacco survey targeting students enrolled in the public higher education system. Overall, 124,119 students from 220 colleges and universities in 31 provincial-level administrative divisions participated in this survey. Current cigarette smoking, current daily smoking, willingness to quit, and smoking cessation among college students were explored.

What are the implications for public health practice?

The current daily cigarette smoking rate of college students was significantly higher than that of senior high school students, especially higher vocational college students. Tobacco control interventions, such as a smoke-free school policy and smoking cessation services, need to be reinforced on college campuses.