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Background and aims: Among European countries, France is particularly concerned by adolescent tobacco smoking, especially in disadvantaged socio‐economic backgrounds (SES). We measured the respective contributions of parental smoking and family living arrangement to social disparities in smoking during adolescence. Design: Secondary analysis of survey data. Setting: A cross‐sectional nation‐wide exhaustive 12‐day survey in March 2017 of French youth aged 17–18.5 years participating in the national mandatory civic information day. Participants: A total of 13 314 adolescents answering a pen‐and‐paper questionnaire about their own tobacco consumption and the smoking of their parents. Measurements Risk ratios (RRs) were computed using modified Poisson regressions, and population‐attributable fraction (PAF) was used as a measure of the explanatory roles of the different factors as mediators of SES. Findings Adolescents living within very privileged and privileged SES were significantly less likely to report daily tobacco smoking (20.4 and 22.7%, respectively) than those within modest and disadvantaged ones (26.0 and 28.6%, respectively). Parental smoking and family living arrangement independently explained the smoking inequalities among adolescents. After adjusting for schooling factors, the risks associated with parental smoking ranged between RR = 1.64 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.50–1.79] when the father only smoked and RR = 2.17 (95% CI = 1.99–2.36) when both parents smoked, compared with non‐smoking parents; the risk associated with living in a non‐intact family was 1.35 (95% CI = 1.26–1.43) and that of living outside the parental home was 1.20 (95% CI = 1.10–1.30). Apprentices and adolescents out of school had higher risks than those at school (RR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.68–1.98) and RR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.92–2.29). The contribution of parental smoking to adolescent smoking (PAF = 32%) was greater than that of SES (PAF = 9%), family living arrangement (PAF = 17%) or schooling factors (14%). The share of SES decreased from 18 to 9% when considering these mediating factors. Conclusion: In France, parental smoking appears to be the factor that most influences adolescent smoking, followed by family living arrangement; the role of family socio‐economic status is small in comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim In France, following a long-term decline in smoking prevalence, an increase in smoking was observed between 2005 and 2010, an unusual occurrence in countries in the 'mature' stage of the smoking epidemic. By contrast, smoking prevalence in England, the neighbouring country, continued its long-term decline. Methods We identified and translated recent reports on smoking and tobacco control in France and using these assessed the main data sources on smoking and compared them with similar sources in England, in order to explore possible explanations. In France, national smoking prevalence data are collected 5-yearly, minimizing opportunities for fine-grained analysis; the comparable study in England is implemented annually. Results We identified several probable causes of the recent increased prevalence of smoking in France, the primary one being the absence of sufficient price rises between 2005 and 2010, due probably to the lack of a robust tobacco control strategy, which also appeared to have empowered tobacco industry influence. Funding to compensate tobacconists appears to incentivize tobacco sales and is significantly higher than tobacco control funding. Conclusions Mindful of the limitations of a case-study approach, the absence of sufficient price rises in the context of a weak tobacco control strategy seems the most likely explanation for the recent increase in smoking prevalence in France. A new cancer control plan and a national smoking reduction programme have been proposed by the French government in 2014 which, depending on implementation, may reverse the trend. In both countries, the higher levels of smoking among the more disadvantaged groups are of great concern and require greater political leadership for effective action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To predict the effects of perfect adherence to the French alcohol consumption guidelines, a maximum of 10 standard alcoholic drinks per week with no more than two standard alcoholic drinks per day, during a 36‐year period (2014–50). Design This simulation study is an adaption of the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model. The dose–response relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol‐attributable cancer risks was defined by cancer site‐specific risk functions, each modelled as a continuous risk. These estimates were used to compute the potential impact fraction (PIF) associated with alcohol consumption by cancer site. Setting: The French general adult population during a 36‐year period (2014–50). Participants: For the baseline scenario, the current distribution of consumption levels, the counterfactual scenario and perfect adherence to the French alcohol consumption guidelines, we generated for each gender and age group 1000 randomly distributed alcohol consumption values from calibrated group‐specific gamma distribution. Measurements The predicted number of new cancer cases among men and women in France between 2015 and 2050 that could have been prevented by following the French government's alcohol consumption guidelines. Findings The simulation predicted that perfect adherence to the French government's alcohol consumption guidelines would prevent, on average, an estimated 15 952 cancer cases per year after the PIF reached its full effect, which would have represented 4.5% of new cancer cases in 2015. The number of averted cancer cases over the study period were highest for oral cavity, oropharynx and hypopharynx cancer (respectively, 118 462, 95% CI = 113 803–123 022 and 11 167, 95% CI = 10 149–12 229] for men and women; liver and intrahepatic bile ducts cancer (123 447, 95% CI = 112 581–133 404 and 2825, 95% CI = 2208,4095); colorectal cancer (89 859, 95% CI = 84 651–95 355 and 12 847, 95% CI = 11 545–14 245); and female breast cancer (61 649, 95% CI = 56 330–67 452). Conclusion: This simulation study of the French general population predicted that perfect adherence to the French government's alcohol consumption guidelines (no more than 10 standard alcoholic drinks per week and two per day) would prevent almost 16 000 cancer cases per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Most studies in English‐speaking countries have found a positive association between e‐cigarette experimentation and subsequent daily tobacco smoking among adolescents. However, this result may not be valid in other cultural contexts; in addition, few studies have assessed whether this association varies with the subject' age at the time of e‐cigarette experimentation. This study aimed to estimate the association between experimenting first with e‐cigarette (rather than tobacco) and subsequent daily smoking according to age at the time of experimentation. Design Secondary analysis; risk ratios (RRs) computed using modified Poisson regressions with inverse probability weighting. Setting: A cross‐sectional nation‐wide representative survey performed in 2017 in France. Participants: French adolescents (n = 24 111), aged 17 to 18.5 years, who had previously experimented with either e‐cigarettes or tobacco. Measures Exposure was defined as the experimentation with e‐cigarettes first (whether or not followed by experimentation with tobacco); the outcome as daily tobacco smoking at the time of data collection. Gender, age, literacy, socio‐economic status, pre‐exposure repeat school years and experimentation with drunkeness, 3 licit and 8 illicit drugs were adjusted for. Uncertainties about the sequence of events defining exposure were handled by the definition of three patterns of exposure, to avoid a misclassification bias. Findings Exposure reduced the risk of transition to daily smoking: RR = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.54, 0.62. This effect increased in a linear manner with age at exposure (RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.78; 0.98 for 1 year, P < 0.001): from RR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.09; 1.54 at age 9 to RR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.32; 0.45 at age 17. Conclusions: Experimenting with e‐cigarettes first (as opposed to tobacco first) appears to be associated with a reduction in the risk of daily tobacco smoking among French adolescents aged 17–18.5, but this risk varies negatively with age at experimentation, and early e‐cigarette experimenters are at higher risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Completely substituting e‐cigarettes (EC) for combustible tobacco cigarettes reduces exposure to toxicants and carcinogens. However, a large proportion of EC users (dual users) continue to smoke conventional cigarettes. This study aimed to compare estimated nicotine intake and e‐cigarette use characteristics between exclusive EC users and dual users. Design Web‐based anonymous cross‐sectional survey. Setting: France. Participants: A total of 3189 adults, current users of electronic cigarettes (EC). Data collection between 4 October 2014 and 11 November 2014. Measurements Primary outcome: estimated nicotine intake per day (mg) from participants' reports. Secondary outcomes: duration, frequency of EC use and nicotine content of e‐liquids used/day. Dual use was defined as using at least one cigarette per day while also using EC. Findings A total of 2836 respondents reported exclusive EC use and 353 reported being dual users. Backward stepwise logistic regression showed that dual users had higher estimated combined daily nicotine intake from e‐liquids and cigarettes [estimate: 2.14, standard error (SE) = 0.26, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 8.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.11–14.09, P < 0.001], but lower daily nicotine intake from EC (estimate: –2.14, SE = 0.26, aOR = 0.12, CI = 0.07–0.196, P < 0.001) and reported fewer months of EC use (estimate: −0.31, SE = 0.14, aOR = 0.73, CI = 0.56–0.95, P = 0.022) compared with exclusive EC users. Conclusion: Dual e‐cigarette users in France may have higher nicotine intake overall than exclusive e‐cigarette users, but they may take in less nicotine from their e‐cigarettes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To assess the effectiveness of the 2015 version of the French Évin Law that was implemented in 1991 with the objective of protecting young people from alcohol advertising. Design Data were obtained from survey questions measuring exposure and receptivity to alcohol advertisements that were introduced for the first time in the 2015 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). Participants and setting A representative sample of 6642 10th-12th grade students (mean age 17.3 years) were interviewed in 198 schools in France by a self-administered questionnaire. Measurements Information was collected on alcohol advertising exposure in different media (outside billboards, internet, etc.) and receptivity to recent advertisements (attractiveness, incentive to drink, etc.). Findings The majority of students declared that they had been exposed at least once a month to alcohol advertisements in supermarkets (73.2%), in movies (66.1%), magazines and newspapers (59.1%), on billboards in streets (54.5%), and on the internet (54.1%). Concerning the last recalled advertisements, 27.8% remembered the beverage type, 18.2% the brand, 13% felt like having a drink after having seen the advertisement and 19.6% found the advertisement attractive (boys ranked significantly higher than girls for all these indicators; P-value < 0.05). Conclusion The 2015 version of the French Évin law does not appear to protect young people effectively from exposure to alcohol advertising in France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims To identify the nature of visual alcohol references in alcohol advertisements during televised broadcasts of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Tournament matches and to evaluate cross-national differences according to alcohol marketing policy restrictiveness. Design Content analysis using the Delphi method and identification of in-game sponsorships. Setting Television broadcasts of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Mexico, Spain and the United States. Cases Eighty-seven alcohol advertisements; 20 matches. Measurements Quantitative rating scales, combined with the Delphi rating technique, were used to determine compliance of the alcohol advertisements with the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking's (IARD) Guiding Principles. Recordings of five matches from four countries were also used to identify the number of in- and out-of-game alcohol brand appearances. Findings A total of 86.2% of all unique alcohol advertisements contained at least one violation of IARD's Guiding Principles, with violation rates ranging from 72.7% (Mexico) to 100% (Brazil). Countries with the least restrictive marketing policies had a higher prevalence of violations in guidelines designed to protect minors. There were 2.76 in-game alcohol brand appearances and 0.83 out-of-game alcohol brand appearances per minute. Brand appearances did not differ across countries or according to a country's marketing policy restrictiveness. Conclusions Self-regulation and statutory policies were ineffective at limiting alcohol advertising during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Tournament television broadcasts. Most advertisements contained content that violated the self-regulation codes, and there were high levels of within-broadcast brand appearances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents addiction-related news briefs as of August 2015. It states that the German legislative body Bundesrat approved a measure in May to change narcotics laws with the aim of making cannabis flowers and cannabis extracts available for standard medical pain care and for palliative patients. It mentions a report by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on the lack of data on the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes. It talks about medical cannabis use by the Italian Army.

Background and aims It is well established that craving increases following exposure to substance-related 'cues', but the role of life-styles or substance use habits that are unique to each person remains poorly understood. This study examines the association of substance-specific and personal cues with craving and substance use in daily life. Design Ecological momentary assessment was used during a 2-week period. Setting Data were collected in a French out-patient addiction treatment centre. Participants A total of 132 out-patients beginning treatment for alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or opiate addiction were included. Measurements Using mobile technologies, participants were questioned four times per day relative to craving, substance use and exposure to either substance-specific cues (e.g. seeing a syringe) or personal cues unique to that individual (e.g. seeing the specific person with whom the substance is used). Findings Craving intensity was associated with the number of concurrently assessed substance-specific cues ( t = 4.418, P < 0.001) and person-specific cues ( t = 4.006, P < 0.001) when analysed jointly within the same model. However, only person-specific cues were associated with increases in craving over subsequent hours of the day ( t = 2.598, P < 0.05). Craving intensity, in turn, predicted increases in later substance use ( t = 4.076, P < 0.001). Causal mediation analyses demonstrated that the association of cues with later substance use was mediated by craving intensity (mediated effect = 0.007, 95% confidence interval = 0.004-0.011). Conclusions Unique person-specific cues appear to have a robust effect on craving addictive substances, and the duration of this association may persist longer than for more general substance-specific cues. Mobile technologies provide new opportunities for understanding these person-specific risk factors and for providing individually tailored interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the French Alcohol Society's clinical guidelines entitled "Alcohol misuse: Screening, diagnosis and treatment" and the guidelines' efforts to circumvent differences id diagnostics between "The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" and the International Classification of Diseases.