Tobacco and Nicotine Product Use Transitions by Race and Ethnicity: Results from a Latent Transition Analysis Using Data from the Truth Longitudinal Cohort (2020–2022)

Abstract

Objective

To examine use and frequency patterns across e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and little cigars, cigars, and cigarillos (LCCs) over time and determine whether patterns differ by race and ethnicity.

Methods

Data was obtained from the Truth Longitudinal Cohort of youth and young adults between September 2020 and June 2022. Latent class and transition analyses were used to classify participants (N = 4448) into subgroups, based on frequency of tobacco product use in the past 30 days, and to estimate the probability of use pattern transitions by race and ethnicity, adjusted for the effects of gender, financial situation, parental education, household tobacco use, and sensation seeking.

Results

Four latent classes were identified: former/noncurrent users, predominantly frequent to daily (FTD) e-cigarette users, predominantly FTD e-cigarette and LCC users, and predominantly FTD cigarette with polytobacco users. Use trajectories differed by race and ethnicity. A lower proportion of those who identified as non-Hispanic Black (60.0%) remained e-cigarette and LCC users, relative to those who identified as non-Hispanic White (86.0%), Hispanic or Latino (86.0%), and another race and ethnicity (79.0%). A lower proportion of those who identified as Hispanic or Latino (54.0%) and another race and ethnicity (59.9%) remained cigarette with polytobacco users, relative to those who identified as non-Hispanic White (76.0%) and non-Hispanic Black (72.0%). A greater proportion of non-Hispanic Black respondents transitioned from e-cigarette and LCC user to former/noncurrent user (40.0%) and polytobacco user to e-cigarette and LCC user (11.0%), relative to other racial/ethnic groups.

Conclusion

More research is needed to determine why tobacco use trajectories differ by race and ethnicity. Such research will be important in informing comprehensive approaches that promote evidence-based prevention policies and programs.

Keywords:

• Tobacco
• nicotine
• youth
• young adults
• e-cigarette
• cigarette
• cigars

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the study participants of the Truth Longitudinal Cohort for contributing their information to this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

A data sharing agreement is required for the use of all data. Truth Initiative does not share data with tobacco industry representatives or affiliated researchers. Investigators seeking access to data used in the study should make a written request to Truth Initiative authors and submit a detailed research plan including the purpose of the proposed research, required variables, duration of the analysis phase, IRB approval with FWA information and documentation of investigator training in human subjects. Approved investigators may access datasets via an analytic Portal owned and administered by Truth Initiative.

Additional information

Funding

This research was internally funded by Truth Initiative Schroeder Institute. No grant funding from external agencies in the public or commercial sectors was received by the authors of this study.