Correlates of Allowing Alternative Tobacco Product or Marijuana Use in the Homes of Young Adults

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Given the increases in alternative tobacco product (ATP) and marijuana use, we examined self-reported likelihood of allowing ATP and marijuana use in the home among young adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from a study of students aged 18 to 25 years (n = 2865) at 7 Georgia colleges and universities. Variables included: personal, household members’, and friends’ tobacco (cigarettes, little cigars and cigarillos [LCCs], e-cigarettes, hookah) and marijuana use and the perceived harm to health, harm of byproducts, addictiveness, and social acceptability of each. Regression models were specified to examine correlates of the likelihood of allowing use of each product in the home. RESULTS: Personal use prevalence ranged from 5.5% for e-cigarettes to 12.5% for marijuana. E-cigarettes were most likely to be allowed in the home; cigarettes were least. Regression indicated that others’ use and the perceived social acceptability of using each product was correlated with greater likelihood of allowing the use of a product. A greater likelihood of allowing cigarette and LCC use in the home was only associated with cigarette or LCC use, respectively; a greater likelihood of allowing e-cigarette use was associated with current e-cigarette use; greater likelihood of allowing hookah use was associated with using any product except e-cigarettes; and greater likelihood of allowing marijuana use was associated with LCC and marijuana use. Perceived harm to health, byproduct harms, and addictiveness were differentially related to the likelihood of allowing use of different products. CONCLUSIONS: ATPs and marijuana may undermine efforts to protect against environmental toxins in the home, thus warranting interventions targeting young adults.