Sexual minority (SM) students have been previously shown to use tobacco 1.5-2.5 times more than heterosexuals. Research has also shown individuals use tobacco as a way to cope with stress surrounding their SM identity. The current study looks at SM young adult’s tobacco use and dependence symptoms in the contemporary product landscape.

The study included 609 SM young adults in Texas between the ages of 18-29 years at baseline. The final sample included 66% assigned females, 32% non-Hispanic White, an average of 24 years, and almost 40% reported past 30-day tobacco use. Measures included past 30-day tobacco product use, nicotine dependence, socio-demographic factors, and individual-level variables. Nicotine dependence was assessed by participants indicating the first time after waking they use a product on any given day. Individual-level variables included binge alcohol use, cannabis use, and depressive symptoms.

Researchers put participants into classes including non-users (412), non-addicted cigarette users (121), non-addicted e-cigarette users (55), and addicted polytobacco users (21). Non-addicted cigarette users reported higher probability of previous 30-day cigarette use while non-addicted e-cigarette users had higher probability of previous 30-day e-cigarette use. Bothe of these groups had low probabilities of nicotine dependence. The final class had high probability of using all nicotine products and nicotine dependence. Binge drinking and cannabis use was associated with higher likelihood of tobacco use. Depressive symptoms indicated greater odds of addicted polytobacco use. These results show that SM young adults’ tobacco use varies across this group of individuals and interventions should address depressive symptoms, cannabis use, and binge alcohol use.

Take Away: The current study looks at SM young adult’s tobacco use and dependence symptoms in the contemporary product landscape.  The study included 609 SM young adults in Texas including 66% assigned females, 32% non-Hispanic White, an average of 24 years, and almost 40% reported past 30-day tobacco use. Measures included past 30-day tobacco product use, nicotine dependence, socio-demographic factors, and individual-level variables. Researchers put participants into classes including non-users (412), non-addicted cigarette users (121), non-addicted e-cigarette users (55), and addicted polytobacco users (21). Binge drinking and cannabis use was associated with higher likelihood of tobacco use. Depressive symptoms indicated greater odds of addicted polytobacco use. These results show that SM young adults’ tobacco use varies across this group of individuals and interventions should address depressive symptoms, cannabis use, and binge alcohol use.

Hinds, J. T., Loukas, A., & Perry, C. L. (2020). Characterizing the polytobacco behaviors of sexual minority young adult college students. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 213, 108126. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108126