Technology-Based Interventions for Substance Use Treatment Among People Who Identify as African American or Black, Hispanic or Latino, and American Indian or Alaska Native: Scoping Review.

Background: In the United States, racial and ethnic disparities in substance use treatment outcomes are persistent, especially among underrepresented minority (URM) populations. Technology-based interventions (TBIs) for substance use treatment show promise in reducing barriers to evidence-based treatment, yet no studies have described how TBIs may impact racial or ethnic health equity.

Objective: This study explored whether TBIs in substance use treatment research promote health equity among people who identify as African American or Black, Hispanic or Latino, and American Indian or Alaska Native through their inclusion in research.

Technology-Based Interventions in Tobacco Use Treatment Among People Who Identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latina/o, and American Indian/Alaska Native: Scoping Review.

Background: Although tobacco use has significantly declined in the general population, traditional tobacco use treatment uptake and success rates remain disproportionately low among people who identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latina/o, and American Indian/Alaska Native. Technology-based interventions (TBIs) for tobacco use are promising alternatives to traditional tobacco use treatments.

Objective: This scoping review aims to investigate the extent to which the use of digital TBIs in tobacco use treatment research promotes health equity among people who identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latina/o, and American Indian/Alaska Native.

Blunt smoking during emerging adulthood: Characterizing transitions in cannabis and cigar co-use among a diverse cohort in Texas.

Objective: To characterize and compare transitions in blunt smoking behaviors among a diverse cohort of youth and young adults observed between Spring 2019 and Fall 2021.

Methods: We analyzed n = 14,152 observations (i.e.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Cannabis Use and Cannabis Use Disorder: Implications for Researchers.

Purpose: Heavy and prolonged use of cannabis is associated with several adverse health, legal and social consequences. Although cannabis use impacts all U.S.

Engaging Adolescents in the Fight Against Drug Abuse and Addiction: A Concept Mapping Approach.

Background: To identify contextually-relevant strategies for reducing and eventually eliminating addiction, it is imperative to engage stakeholders that are most affected by drug abuse but typically left out of the conversation, such as adolescents.

Aim: The aim of this study was to collaborate with 45 adolescent stakeholders participating in a school-based research program to identify areas to address addiction.

Methods: Guided by a modified version of the mixed-methods concept mapping approach, adolescents were asked to brainstorm and sort a list of statements about how to address addiction in their community.

The association between age of initiation and current blunt use among adults: Findings from the national survey on drug use and health, 2014-2019.

Background: Initiating cannabis use at a young age has been linked to problematic and continued cannabis use in adulthood. Given that approximately 1 in 3 adult cannabis smokers report blunt use, it is important to determine if and how age of blunt initiation is associated with current blunt use among adult blunt smokers.

Methods: This study uses cross-sectional pooled data from the 2014-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to examine the association between age of blunt initiation and current blunt use among 62,020 adults who reported lifetime blunt use.

The effect of varenicline on smoking and drinking outcomes among Black and White adults with alcohol use disorder and co-occurring cigarette smoking: A secondary analysis of two clinical trials.

Introduction: Varenicline is an FDA-approved medication for smoking cessation and has demonstrated promise in reducing alcohol use. This study sought to compare the efficacy of varenicline in reducing smoking and drinking among Black and White people seeking alcohol treatment.

Methods: Linear mixed modeling was conducted using data from two multi-site placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials examining the effects of varenicline for treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD; O'Malley et al.

Reductions in tobacco use in naltrexone, relative to buprenorphine-maintained individuals with opioid use disorder: Secondary analysis from the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network.

Background: Smoking prevalence in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) is over 80%. Research suggests that opioid use significantly increases smoking, which could account for the strikingly low smoking-cessation rates observed in both methadone- and buprenorphine-maintained patients, even with the use of first-line smoking-cessation interventions. If opioids present a barrier to smoking-cessation, then better smoking outcomes should be observed in OUD patients treated with extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX, an opioid antagonist) compared to those receiving buprenorphine (BUP-NX, a partial opioid agonist).

Cigarette smoking frequency, quantity, dependence, and quit intentions during adolescence: Comparison of menthol and non-menthol smokers (National Youth Tobacco Survey 2017-2020).

Background: Use of menthol cigarettes is linked to sustained cigarette smoking adults. However, the relationship between menthol and smoking profile has not been thoroughly explored in adolescent cigarette smokers. This study examines the relationship between use of menthol cigarette and smoking frequency (i.

Prevalence and correlates of daily blunt use among U.S. African American, Hispanic, and White adults from 2014 to 2018.

Objective: Blunt smoking presents unique public health concerns relative to other methods of marijuana use, including greater exposure to toxins and carcinogens as well as increased risk for cannabis use disorder. This study examines correlates of self-reported daily blunt use among a nationally representative sample of adult blunt users in the United States.

Method: We pooled and analyzed 5 years of cross-sectional data from = 10,826 adult blunt smokers in the United States using the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2014-2018).

Concurrent E-cigarette and marijuana use and health-risk behaviors among U.S. high school students.

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and marijuana remain prevalent problems among adolescents nationwide. We assessed current (past 30-day) exclusive e-cigarette use, exclusive marijuana use, and concurrent use with unintentional injury and violent behaviors, alcohol and other drug use behaviors, and sexual behaviors among U.S.

Is it "loud" enough?: A qualitative investigation of blunt use among African American young adults.

Heavy blunt use is common among young adult cannabis users, especially African Americans. This exploratory qualitative study aimed to examine how African American young adults understand, talk about and experience their blunt use. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults reporting daily or almost daily blunt use in the past month ( = 20; 75% male).

Hispanic participants in the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Clinical Trials Network: A scoping review of two decades of research.

Introduction: Hispanics significantly underutilize substance abuse treatment and are at greater risk for poor treatment outcomes and dropout. Two decades of research from the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) offers an opportunity to increase our understanding in how to address the disparities experienced by Hispanics in substance abuse treatment.

Methods: A scoping review was utilized to determine what has been learned from the CTN about Hispanic populations with substance use disorder.

Extended-release naltrexone versus buprenorphine-naloxone to treat opioid use disorder among black adults.

Few studies examine the effectiveness of treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) among Black individuals despite recent evidence suggesting opioid overdose death rates are, in some cases, highest and increasing at a faster rate among Black people compared to other racial/ethnic groups. This secondary analysis study investigated treatment preference, retention, and relapse rates amongst a subgroup of 73 Black participants with OUD (81% male, mean age 39.05, SD = 11.

Gender Differences in the Association between Marijuana and Menthol Cigarette Use among African American Adult Cigarette Smokers.

Despite the strong relationship between marijuana and tobacco use, especially among African American individuals and males, very few studies have examined the association between marijuana and menthol cigarette use. This study was designed to identify the prevalence of past month, past year and lifetime marijuana use and marijuana dependence among menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers, as well as the association between marijuana and menthol cigarette use among African American female and male cigarette smokers. Data were drawn from 1,173 African American adult cigarette smokers in the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Blunt use and menthol cigarette smoking: An examination of adult marijuana users.

Introduction: Use of menthol cigarettes remains highly prevalent among African American smokers and has increased among White and Hispanic/Latino smokers. Research is needed to examine if behavioral factors, such as marijuana use, are differentially associated with menthol cigarette use among racially/ethnically diverse samples of marijuana users.

Methods: Using data from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, this study examined the association between past month marijuana (blunt versus non-blunt) and cigarette (non-menthol cigarette versus menthol cigarette versus no cigarette) use, as well as racial/ethnic differences in this relationship.

A systematic scoping review of research on Black participants in the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network.

Black individuals experience a disproportionate burden of substance-related disabilities and premature death relative to other racial/ethnic groups, highlighting the need for additional research. The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN), a research platform for multisite behavioral, pharmacological, and integrated trials designed to evaluate the effectiveness of substance use treatments in community settings with diversified patient populations, provides a wealth of research knowledge on substance use. Although CTN trials have enrolled over 5,000 Black individuals since its inception in 2000, there has been no synthesis of the findings, discussion of the implications, or suggestions for future research for Black individuals.

Blunts versus joints: Cannabis use characteristics and consequences among treatment-seeking adults.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of blunt smoking among cannabis users, very few studies examine the clinical profile of blunt smokers relative to those using more common methods of cannabis use, such as joints.

Methods: The current study uses baseline data from the ACCENT (Achieving Cannabis Cessation-Evaluating N-acetylcysteine Treatment) study, a multi-site randomized pharmacotherapy clinical trial within the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network, to predict the association between blunt and joint use frequency and cannabis use characteristics (e.g.

Flavored tobacco use is associated with dual and poly tobacco use among adolescents.

Objectives: This study examines the relationships between flavored tobacco use and single, dual, and poly tobacco product use, among adolescents. Given the increased use of flavored tobacco products, it is vital to understand if flavored products are associated with dual and poly tobacco product use.

Methods: Data were obtained from the 2017 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

Puff, puff, drink: The association between blunt and alcohol use among African American adolescents and young adults.

Although African Americans report lower levels of alcohol use relative to their White counterparts, they experience higher rates of alcohol-related problems (e.g., alcohol dependence).