Trying e-cigarettes during college did not deter cigarette smoking and may have contributed to continued smoking.

Background K2 and Spice consist of an herbal blend of plant matter and chemical synthetic cannabinoids. These substances emerged in the early 2000s as a popular alternative to marijuana among youth and young adults. Objectives This study sought to identify rates and correlates of K2 and Spice at college entry and first use during college. Methods In Fall 2010, 3146 students at 11 colleges in North Carolina and Virginia were recruited to participate in a longitudinal cohort survey. The cohort was invited to participate in a total of six surveys over their college career. Random-effects logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with lifetime K2 and Spice use at college entry and first use during college, adjusting for clustering within schools and sample weights. Results Weighted lifetime prevalence of K2 and Spice use at college entry was 7.6%. An additional 6.6% of students reported first use during college. By the cohort’s fourth year, 17.0% reported lifetime K2 and Spice use. While lifetime prevalence increased, past 6-month prevalence decreased substantially over time. K2 and Spice use at college entry was associated with sensation seeking; hookah, marijuana, and illicit drug use; and low religiosity. First use during college was associated with having a father with less than a four-year degree; alcohol and hookah use. Conclusion Universities should ensure that prevention efforts address current substance use, including K2/Spice, and that treatment options are available for first year students who use substances.

Background Parties are a common setting for marijuana and illicit drug use among adolescents. Objectives This study examined the context of parties with alcohol, marijuana and illicit drug use attended by adolescents and young adults. Methods In 2016, an address-based sample of 1,764 15–20-year-olds in 24 U.S. communities participated in an online survey. Parties were categorized as alcohol-only (Alc-only), marijuana+alcohol (Mj+Alc), and illicit+marijuana+alcohol (ID+Mj+Alc) based on survey participants’ observations and self-reported drug use at the last party attended. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify correlates of substance use at parties. Results 1,089 participants (61.7%) reported ever attending a party where alcohol was consumed. Of those, 60.1% reported that the last party they attended had Alc-only, 24.9% had Mj+Alc, and 10.0% had ID+Mj+Alc. Older participants were more likely to attend a party with Mj+Alc or ID+Mj+Alc. Participants whose mother had a college degree (compared to less than a college degree) were less likely to attend a party with ID+Mj+Alc. Parties with Mj+Alc and ID+Mj+Alc were larger and the majority of attendees were under 21. Parties with ID+Mj+Alc were more likely to be majority female compared to mixed gender. Parties with Mj+Alc were more likely to occur at someone else’s home and be in states where medical and recreational marijuana use was legal. Conclusion One-third of parties attended by 15–20-year-olds had marijuana and/or illicit drug use in addition to alcohol consumption. The identified risk factors of parties with marijuana and illicit drug use can be used to develop targeted prevention strategies.

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