Risk and protective factors of adolescent exclusive snus users compared to non-users of tobacco, exclusive smokers and dual users of snus and cigarettes.

The use of snus is increasing in Norway. In this study we examined differences between adolescents who were exclusive snus users, and adolescent non-users, smokers and dual users of snus and cigarettes on a number of psychosocial factors, categorized as risk variables and protective variables associated with involvement in health compromising behavior. We applied separate logistic regression models, where exclusive snus users (n=740) were compared with non-users (n=904), smokers (n=219), and dual users (n=367).

Synthetic Cannabinoids and Cathinones: Prevalence and Markets.

Over the past few years, the phenomenon of new designer drugs has attracted much attention. Synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones are the two main classes of these drugs. Both are potent drugs of abuse, and several cases of severe toxicity and deaths are reported.

The relationship between snus use and smoking cognitions.

We examined whether use of snus influenced cognitions in terms of smoking expectancies and smoking prototype perceptions in a direction that could promote smoking initiation, thus highlighting potential causal mechanisms between the use of snus and smoking behavior. A telephone-based longitudinal survey among Norwegian adolescents was conducted with two points of measurement during a 1-year period in 2006-2007. The respondents were divided into four groups: Group 1: snus initiators during the period (N = 54), Group 2: regular snus users (N = 160), Group 3: non-users of snus and cigarettes (N = 376), and Group 4: regular smokers (N = 306).

Alcohol use and drunk driving: the modifying effect of impulsivity.

Objective: The aim of this study was twofold: (a) to examine how an increase in the frequency of heavy drinking episodes affects the incidence of drunk driving and (b) to examine whether the effect of alcohol use on drunk driving is contingent on impulsivity.

Method: Two waves of the Young in Norway Longitudinal Study were applied (N = 2,603; response rate: 67%), when the respondents were on average 17 (1994) and 28 (2005) years of age. Measurements consisted of self-reported heavy episodic drinking, drunk driving, and impulsivity.

The use of epidemiology in alcohol research.

Aims: This paper presents examples to illustrate the utility and limitations in the use of epidemiology in alcohol research and discusses some promising new directions.

Methods: Review of literature, concentrating on epidemiological alcohol research with relevance to public health.

Findings And Conclusion: Epidemiology offers tools for assessment of causes and effects of alcohol consumption as well as the effects of efforts to prevent alcohol consumption and its consequences.

Thresholds in a low-threshold setting: an empirical study of barriers in a centre for people with drug problems and mental health disorders.

Background: Some services for drug users with mental health disorders can be characterised as low-threshold services. These aim at making help easily accessible for people who are not able to request help from services at higher levels. In this study we examine what kind of thresholds are experienced by clients at a low-threshold centre.

Patterns of dual use of snus and cigarettes in a mature snus market.

Introduction: We examine the prevalence of dual use of snus and cigarettes among Norwegian men by categorizing dual use into four categories according to the frequency of use of each product, considering the order of uptake of both products, and examining reasons for additional snus use. We compare dual users and exclusive cigarette smokers with respect to their smoking intensity, plans for quitting smoking, and future smoking identity.

Methods: We used a data pool of six cross-sectional, national representative surveys conducted annually in the period 2005-2010 containing a total of 3,524 males aged 16-74.

Early onset of drinking and risk of heavy drinking in young adulthood--a 13-year prospective study.

Background: Prevention programs often aim at preventing early onset of drinking (EOD) on the grounds that this may curb heavy drinking in adulthood. While many studies have shown an association between EOD and adult alcohol use disorders, these findings could be inflated by retrospective reports or insufficient control for confounders. This study examined the association between EOD behavior assessed in early adolescence and heavy drinking in adulthood, controlling for deviant behavior and parental heavy drinking.

Perceptions of plain and branded cigarette packaging among Norwegian youth and adults: a focus group study.

Introduction: In Norway, packaging is one of the few remaining ways for tobacco companies to promote their products. Plain packaging of tobacco products could be a means to limit this promotion.

Methods: Eleven focus group interviews with daily, occasional, and former smokers and nonsmokers (N = 69) aged 16-50 were undertaken to explore perceptions of different cigarette brands, the role of package design in communicating brand images, and how participants perceived cigarette packages when important design elements such as colors, symbols, logos, and branded fonts were removed.

How do impulsivity and education relate to smoking initiation and cessation among young adults?

Objective: This study examined the predictive value of impulsivity for starting and quitting smoking and whether education had an independent effect on smoking careers or moderated the impulsivity-smoking association.

Method: Two waves of the cohort study Young in Norway were used in the present study (third wave: 1999, age range: 19-32 years; fourth wave: 2005, age range: 25-38 years). Postal questionnaires were used for data collection.

Low level of alcohol drinking among two generations of non-Western immigrants in Oslo: a multi-ethnic comparison.

Background: Alcohol drinking is a risk factor for harm and disease. A low level of drinking among non-Western immigrants may lead to less alcohol-related harm and disease. The first aim of this study was to describe frequency of drinking in two generations of immigrants in Oslo, contrasting the result to drinking frequency among ethnic Norwegians.

The role of education for current, former and never-smoking among non-western immigrants in Norway. Does the pattern fit the model of the cigarette epidemic?

Objectives: The aim was (1) to investigate the association between education and smoking status (current, former and never-smoking) among non-western immigrants in Norway and (2) examine if these associations fit the pattern predicted by the model of the cigarette epidemic.

Design: Data came from the Oslo Health Study and the Oslo Immigrant Health study (2000-2002). The first included all Oslo citizens from seven selected birth cohorts.

Health effects of downsizing survival and job loss in Norway.

The effects of job displacement (i.e. job loss due to downsizing or plant closure) and downsizing survival on different health outcomes (i.

Out of sight, out of mind? Removal of point-of-sale tobacco displays in Norway.

Aim: To evaluate retailer's compliance and consumer's perceptions of and experiences with the point-of-sale (POS) tobacco display ban in Norway, implemented 1 January 2010.

Methods: Retailer compliance was measured using audit surveys. Consumer's perceptions of the ban were assessed in three web surveys: one conducted before and two after implementation of the ban.

Association between willingness to use snus to quit smoking and perception of relative risk between snus and cigarettes.

Introduction: Smokers are often incorrect in their assessment of the relative risk of snus and cigarettes. We have studied how perception of risks of snus compared with cigarettes was associated with the willingness of trying snus as a quit-smoking method.

Methods: Fourteen thousand seven hundred and forty-four Norwegian men aged 20-50 years were selected at random from a national representative web panel and sent a questionnaire by e-mail.

Contrasting snus and NRT as methods to quit smoking. an observational study.

Background: Snus is considerably less hazardous to health than cigarettes. Recent data from Scandinavia have indicated that many smokers use snus as a method for quitting smoking.

Methods: Data from five repeated cross-sectional surveys of Norwegian men and women aged 16-74 were pooled (N = 6 262).

Young people's overestimation of peer substance use: an exaggerated phenomenon?

Aims: This paper queries the notion that young people overestimate peer substance use, asking whether there is robust evidence that such misperceptions are widespread and whether the phenomenon may have been exaggerated in the research literature.

Method: An examination of the research literature was conducted, focusing mainly on studies published since 2000. Some analyses of relevant data on cannabis use from a Norwegian youth survey were also undertaken.

Perceptions of the relative harmfulness of snus among Norwegian general practitioners and their effect on the tendency to recommend snus in smoking cessation.

Introduction: Research suggests that health risks associated with the use of Swedish moist snuff (snus) are considerably smaller than health risks associated with cigarette smoking. However, erroneous ideas of approximately equal harm from snus and cigarettes are common in the general population. General practitioners (GPs) have a crucial role in giving information about health and risk to patients, and the objective of this study was to measure their perceptions of the relative harmfulness of cigarettes and snus and how these perceptions related to their tendency to recommend snus as a smoking cessation aid.

The impact of small changes in bar closing hours on violence. The Norwegian experience from 18 cities.

Aims: To estimate the effect on violence of small changes in closing hours for on-premise alcohol sales, and to assess whether a possible effect is symmetrical.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A quasi-experimental design drawing on data from 18 Norwegian cities that have changed (extended or restricted) the closing hours for on-premise alcohol sales. All changes were ≤ 2 hours.

Hardcore smokers in Norway 1996-2009.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the relative proportion of hardcore smokers (HCS) in Norway for the years 1996-2009.

Methods: Data were derived from Statistics Norway's annually cross-sectional representative samples of the adult population. The total sample size of smokers each year was between 250 and 500.

Post-ban self-reports on economic impact of smoke-free bars and restaurants are biased by pre-ban attitudes. A longitudinal study among employees.

Introduction: Objective sales data have indicated that the Norwegian indoor smoke-free regime implemented in June 2004 did not affect the hospitality business negatively. This paper investigates whether self-reports on the economic impact of the smoking ban from employees in the hospitality sector gave similar results, and whether post-ban self-reports on the economic impact of the ban were influenced by pre-ban attitudes towards smoke-free policies.

Methods: A random sample of 516 employees in bars and restaurants stated their attitudes towards smoke-free policies shortly before the ban became effective.

Illegal drug use and the economic recession--what can we learn from the existing research?

Background: Much research on the use of amphetamine, cocaine and heroin employs individual level data and analyses variations in drug use by factors like personal characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and the social environment. Less attention is given to how these individual responses inter-relate with key macroeconomic variables. From a drug policy perspective however, it is important to also understand the consequences for drug use and drug users of changes in the macroeconomic conditions.