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Background: A substantial group of adolescents and young adults engage in risky alcohol use and there is a need for alcohol prevention. The 2020 BZgA review of reviews on addiction prevention provides the best available scientific knowledge on effectiveness of prevention measures for young people., Research Question: Which approaches show preventive effects on alcohol use in different prevention settings?, Methods: A systematic literature search in June 2017 in seven international databases resulted in 28,949 hits. Inclusion criteria were a review or meta-analysis study type, a 2012-2017 publication date, a universal or selective target group, age up to 25 years, and a target behavior of alcohol consumption. Exclusion criteria were target group people with substance use disorders and target behavior risk factors. The three authors performed a systematic content analysis of 34 alcohol-related publications and assessed their methodology using AMSTAR (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews). Conclusions and recommendations were framed by consensus among all authors., Results: Based on a total number of 53 conclusions on the effectiveness of alcohol prevention approaches depending on setting (family, school, college, media, health care, and community) and target group, it can be recommended - among other things - to implement family programs and parenting training, behavioral programs targeting specific personal and social skills, brief interventions with feedback, and mentoring programs. No recent reviews that investigated the effectiveness of alcohol policies at the community or national level could be identified., Conclusions: Behavioral alcohol prevention is effective. It is recommended to address specific age and target groups in different settings by using specific interventions. Consensus is needed with regard to what kind of evidence proves effectiveness of environmental prevention measures.

Background: The perception that e‑cigarettes are less harmful than traditional tobacco products can influence the consumption of e‑cigarettes., Objectives: Three questions were examined: (1) How do different population groups perceive health risks of e‑cigarettes? (2) Do sociodemographic variables explain differences in the risk assessment of e‑cigarettes? (3) Does the perception of health risks predict the use of e‑cigarettes for smoking cessation?, Methods: Data came from the 2015 Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) with a sample size of n = 9204 participants, aged 18 to 64 years (response rate 52.2%). Data were collected by telephone, online, or by written questionnaires. Assessments of risk perception of e‑cigarettes and conventional cigarettes (more harmful, just as harmful, less harmful, do not know) were compared. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were performed., Results: Individuals with lower education rated e‑cigarettes as more harmful. Older people and women perceived e‑cigarettes as just as harmful. Smokers considered e‑cigarettes to be more harmful than or just as harmful as conventional tobacco products. The likelihood of using e‑cigarettes for smoking cessation was higher if people thought they were less harmful than conventional cigarettes., Conclusions: Only one-third of the population knows that e‑cigarettes are less harmful to health than conventional cigarettes. The perception of health risks is related to the usage of e‑cigarettes for smoking cessation.

Aim: This study presents current data on smoking cessation and usage of smoking cessation aids among smokers in a representative sample of German smokers. Data of 2012 will be compared with data of the year 2000. Methods: The sample of the 2012 Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) was randomly drawn from population registers and consisted of 9 084 individuals aged 18-64 years. A mixed-mode design including questionnaires, telephone and Internet interviews was applied. The response rate was 53,6%. Number of smoking cessation attempts and usage of smoking cessation aids were assessed among actual and former smokers. Results: Of the 4 261 persons who had smoked in their lifetime 54,1% are actual and 45,9% former smokers. Among actual smokers 64,5% have tried to quit smoking at least once; 24,3% within the last 12 months. Quit attempts were mostly undertaken without formal help (53,7%). Users of smoking cessation aids report that they used social support (22,6%), self-help material (13,3%), nicotine replacement products (11,3%) and E-cigarettes (8,4%). Conclusions: Compared to the year 2000 the number of former smokers has increased. While the number of smoking cessation attempts among smokers is unchanged, more smokers use smoking cessation aids. Using E-cigarettes for smoking cessation is becoming more important., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)