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Aims: To estimate the strength of association between psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders (SUD), and cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) during early pregnancy. Design: Observational study. Setting: Kaiser Permanente Northern California, USA. Participants: 299 496 pregnancies from 227 555 individuals screened for cannabis use by self‐report and a urine toxicology test at entrance to prenatal care in Kaiser Permanente Northern California during January 2011–December 2021 (excepting year 2020). The sample was 62.5% non‐White, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 31.1 (5.5) years; 6.8% used cannabis; 0.2% had a CUD. Measurements: Exposure variables included electronic health record‐based psychiatric diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity, anxiety, bipolar, depressive, personality, posttraumatic stress and psychotic disorders; and alcohol, opioid, stimulant and tobacco use disorders, during the two years prior to pregnancy up to the day before the prenatal substance use screening date. Outcome variables were any cannabis use, frequency of self‐reported cannabis use and CUD during early pregnancy. Findings Psychiatric disorder prevalence ranged from 0.2% (psychotic) to 14.3% (anxiety), and SUD ranged from 0.3% (stimulant/opioid) to 3.8% (tobacco). Psychiatric disorders were associated with cannabis use and CUD, with the strongest association for any use found for bipolar disorder (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.83; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.53–3.17) and the strongest association for CUD found for psychotic disorders (aOR = 10.01, 95% CI = 6.52–15.37). SUDs were associated with cannabis use and CUD, with the strongest association for any use found for tobacco use disorder (aOR = 4.03, 95% CI = 3.82–4.24) and the strongest association for CUD found for stimulant use disorder (aOR = 21.99, 95% CI = 16.53–29.26). Anxiety, bipolar, depressive disorders and tobacco use disorder were associated with greater odds of daily than monthly or less cannabis use. Conclusions: Psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders appear to be associated with elevated odds of any and frequent cannabis use as well as cannabis use disorder during early pregnancy. In most cases, the associations with cannabis outcomes were stronger for substance use disorders than other psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Cannabis use is increasingly common among pregnant individuals and might be a risk factor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. We aimed to test whether prenatal cannabis use is associated with increased risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy. Design: This is a retrospective cohort study. Setting: The study was conducted in California, USA. Participants: A total of 58 114 pregnancies (with outcomes from 5 March 2020 to 30 September 2021) among 57 287 unique pregnant women aged 14–54 years who were screened for prenatal substance use, enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) (a health‐care system) and had not tested positive for COVID‐19 prior to pregnancy onset. Measurements We utilized data from the KPNC electronic health record. Cannabis use status (current, recently quit and non‐user) was based on universal screenings during prenatal care (including urine toxicology testing and self‐reported use on a self‐administered questionnaire). SARS‐CoV‐2 infection [based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests] was estimated in time‐to‐event analyses using Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusting for covariates. Secondary analyses examined differences in (a) SARS‐CoV‐2 testing rates and (b) SARS‐CoV‐2 infection rates among those tested. Findings We observed 348 810 person‐months of follow‐up time in our cohort with 41 064 SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR tests and 6% (n = 2414) of tests being positive. At the start of follow‐up, 7% of pregnant individuals had current use, 12% had recently quit and 81% did not use cannabis. Adjusting for covariates, current use was associated with lower rates of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.49–0.74 than non‐use. Those who had recently quit did not differ from non‐cannabis users in infection rates (aHR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.86–1.08). Sensitivity analyses among patients who received a SARS‐CoV‐2 test also found lower odds of infection associated with current versus no cannabis use (aOR = 0.76, CI = 0.61–0.93). Conclusions: Current cannabis use appears to be associated with a reduced risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection among pregnant individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given increases in cannabis use in pregnancy and animal model research showing effects of in‐utero cannabis exposure, high‐quality information on long‐term consequences of in‐utero cannabis exposure in humans is needed. While reviews have summarized findings from observational studies with humans, reviews have not focused on limitations of these studies and recommendations for future research. Therefore, we critically reviewed observational research on in‐utero cannabis exposure and psychiatric and neurodevelopmental outcomes measured at or after age 3 and provided recommendations for future research. We used Web of Science, Google Scholar, and work cited from relevant identified publications to identify 46 papers to include in our review. Our review includes two main sections. The first section highlights the extensive limitations of the existing research, which include small and nongeneralizable samples, reliance on self‐reported data, lack of detail on timing and amount of exposure, inclusion of older exposure data only, not accounting for important confounders, inclusion of potential mediators as covariates, not including outcome severity measures, and not assessing for offspring sex differences. The second section provides recommendations for future research regarding exposure and outcome measures, sample selection, confounder adjustment, and other methodological considerations. For example, with regard to exposure definition, we recommend that studies quantify the amount of cannabis exposure, evaluate the influence of timing of exposure, and incorporate biological measures (e.g., urine toxicology measures). Given that high‐quality information on long‐term consequences of in‐utero cannabis exposure in humans does not yet exit, it is crucial for future research to address the limitations we have identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To test whether drinking onset moderates genetic and environmental contributions to individual differences in the etiology of alcohol expectancies across adolescence. Design Longitudinal twin design. Setting Community sample from Los Angeles, CA, USA. Participants A total of 1292 male and female twins, aged 11–18years, were assessed at 1 (n = 440), 2 (n = 587) or 3 (n = 265) occasions as part of the risk factors for the Antisocial Behavior Twin Study. Measurements Social behavioral (SB) alcohol expectancies were measured using an abbreviated version of the Social Behavioral subscale from the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire for adolescents (AEQ-A). Drinking onset was defined as >1 full drink of alcohol. Findings Alcohol expectancies increased over age and the increase becamemore rapid following onset of drinking. The importance of genetic and environmental influences on SB scores varied with age and drinking status, such that variation prior to drinking onset was attributed solely to environmental influences, whereas all post-onset variation was attributed to genetic influences. Results did not differ significantly by sex. Conclusion Only environmental factors explain beliefs about the social and behavioral consequences of alcohol use prior to drinking onset,whereas genetic factors explain an increasing proportion of the variance in these beliefs after drinking onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cigarette taxation has been recognized as one of the most significant policy instruments to reduce smoking. Smoking and drinking are highly comorbid behaviors, and the public health benefits of cigarette taxation may extend beyond smoking-related outcomes to impact alcohol consumption. The current study is the first to test whether increases in cigarette taxes are associated with reductions in alcohol consumption among smokers using a large, prospective U.S. sample. Methods Our sample included 21,473 alcohol consumers from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions ( NESARC). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate whether increases in cigarette taxes between Waves 1 (2001 to 2002) and 2 (2004 to 2005) were associated with reductions in quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, adjusting for demographics, baseline alcohol consumption, and alcohol price. Stratified analyses were conducted by sex, hazardous drinking status, and age and income group. Results Increases in cigarette taxes were associated with modest reductions in typical quantity of alcohol consumption and frequency of binge drinking among smokers. Cigarette taxation was not associated with changes in alcohol consumption among nonsmokers. In analyses stratified by sex, the inverse associations of cigarette taxes with typical quantity and binge drinking frequency were found only for male smokers. Further, the inverse association of cigarette taxation and alcohol consumption was stronger among hazardous drinkers (translating into approximately 1/2 a drink less alcohol consumption per episode), young adult smokers, and smokers in the lowest income category. Conclusions Findings from this longitudinal, epidemiological study suggest increases in cigarette taxes are associated with modest to moderate reductions in alcohol consumption among vulnerable groups. Additional research is needed to further quantify the public health benefits of cigarette taxation on alcohol consumption and to evaluate the potential broader crossover effects of cigarette taxation on other health behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Available evidence suggests that quitting smoking does not alter alcohol consumption. However, smoking cessation medications may have a direct impact on alcohol consumption independent of any effects on smoking cessation. Using an international longitudinal epidemiological sample of smokers, we evaluated whether smoking cessation medications altered alcohol consumption independent of quitting smoking. Methods Longitudinal data were analyzed from the International Tobacco Control Four Country (ITC-4) Survey between 2007 and 2008, a telephone survey of nationally representative samples of smokers from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States ( n = 4,995). Quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, use of smoking cessation medications (varenicline, nicotine replacement [ NRT], and no medications), and smoking behavior were assessed across 2 yearly waves. Controlling for baseline drinking and changes in smoking status, we evaluated whether smoking cessation medications were associated with reduced alcohol consumption. Results Varenicline was associated with a reduced likelihood of any drinking compared with nicotine replacement ( OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.34 to 0.94), and consuming alcohol once a month or more compared to nicotine replacement ( OR = 0.43; 95% CI = 0.27 to 0.69) or no medication ( OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.41 to 0.99). Nicotine replacement was associated with an increased likelihood of consuming alcohol once a month or more compared to no medication ( OR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.25). Smoking cessation medications were not associated with more frequent drinking (once a week or more) or typical quantity consumed per episode. Medication effects on drinking frequency were independent of smoking cessation. Conclusions This epidemiological investigation demonstrated that varenicline was associated with a reduced frequency of alcohol consumption. Continued work should clarify under what conditions nicotine replacement therapies may increase or decrease patterns of alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A study by Dawson and colleagues (Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2007; 31:69) using data from National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Condition found earlier drinking onset age, and higher levels of past-year stressful life events (SLE) were associated with higher past-year alcohol consumption. The aims of our study were as follows: (i) to attempt to replicate this interaction; (ii) to extend it by examining sex and event dependence as potential moderators of the effect; and (iii) to estimate the roles of genetic and environmental factors in mediating the overlap of early drinking onset and SLE in their relations with alcohol consumption. Methods: Data were from 1,382 female and 2,218 male drinkers interviewed as part of the Virginia Adult Twin Study of Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders. Regression models were used to evaluate the main and interactive effects of early drinking onset and moderate or severe past-year SLE on past-year drinking density (PYDD), a weighted quantity-frequency measure of alcohol consumption. Analyses adjusted for demographic covariates and were stratified by sex and whether SLE were independent or dependent on the person's actions, as rated by interviewers. Structural twin models were used to estimate the degree to which early drinking onset, SLE, and their interaction accounted for additive genetic, common environmental and individual-specific variance in PYDD. Results: We replicated the prior finding of a main effect of higher alcohol consumption among individuals reporting earlier drinking onset. Age at drinking onset accounted for about 5% of the variation in PYDD, and this association was mostly attributable to overlapping genetic influences. Evidence for an interaction between onset age and SLE was generally weak, possibly because of lower power and other methodological differences from Dawson and colleagues' study. However, there was some evidence consistent with an interaction of higher PYDD among early drinking men who experienced independent SLE and early drinking women with dependent SLE. Conclusions: We confirmed prior findings of an association between early age at drinking onset with higher past-year drinking among young- and middle-aged adults and found limited evidence supporting a replication for higher stress-related drinking among early-onset drinkers. The association is consistent with early onset and stress-related drinking being attributable to overlapping genetic liability. Among early drinkers, our results suggest sex differences in consumption with regard to event dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the authors discuss the possible unintended effects of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use in drinking venues, particularly their long-term health consequences. Also cited are the growing number of young people experimenting on e-cigarettes in the U.S. as of May 2016, the recommendation by the World Health Organization to ban the use of e-cigarettes in public places, and the number of U.S. states that ban tobacco smoking in restaurants and bars.

Background: Major depression and alcohol dependence co-occur within individuals and families to a higher than expected degree. This study investigated whether mood-related drinking motives mediate the association between major depression and alcohol dependence, and what the genetic and environmental bases are for this relationship. Methods: The sample included 5,181 individuals from the Virginia Adult Twin Study of Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders, aged 30 and older. Participants completed a clinical interview which assessed lifetime major depression, alcohol dependence, and mood-related drinking motives. Results: Mood-related drinking motives significantly explained the depression-alcohol dependence relationship at both the phenotypic and familial levels. Results from twin analyses indicated that for both males and females, the familial factors underlying mood-related drinking motives accounted for virtually all of the familial variance that overlaps between depression and alcohol dependence. Conclusions: The results are consistent with an indirect role for mood-related drinking motives in the etiology of depression and alcohol dependence, and suggest that mood-related drinking motives may be a useful index of vulnerability for these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]