Tobacco

Secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke in utero and in early childhood was associated with decreased lung function by age 6, according to research presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference.

Younger age at first cannabis use or prescription drug misuse was linked to faster development of substance use disorders, according to study results in a research letter published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents was associated with tobacco exposure, data published in JAMA Network Open showed.

E-cigarette use combined with use of traditional cigarettes may confer similar inflammatory and oxidative stress to exclusive use of traditional cigarettes, according to research published in Circulation.

In 2020, 23.6% of high school students and 6.7% of middle school students reported using any tobacco product, although the number of users declined by 1.73 million from 2019 to about 4.45 million, according to data published in MMWR.

Passive smoke exposure in childhood was associated with a reduction in global longitudinal strain, a marker of left ventricular dysfunction, in adulthood, researchers reported at the virtual American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

Educational pamphlets from dermatology providers may help patients reduce or quit tobacco use, which contributes to several cutaneous disorders, according to a poster presented at the American Academy of Dermatology virtual meeting.

The American Thoracic Society issued a new clinical practice guideline that outlines recommendations for initiating pharmacologic treatment for smoking cessation in tobacco-dependent adults.

To mark World No Tobacco Day on Sunday, May 31, WHO launched a new toolkit for teens aged 13 to 17 years that focuses on protecting them from being exploited by the tobacco industry.

Varenicline appeared to reduce alcohol craving among individuals with alcohol use disorders, but it did not improve drinking-related outcomes, according to results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.