Amid declining cigarette consumption, sales of non-cigarette tobacco products remain strong. Importantly, the diverse products available in the current tobacco marketplace pose different levels of harm to the user. Combustible products such as cigarettes and cigars are higher on the tobacco risk continuum than non- combustible products such as smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes (e-cigs). Conceivably, smokers who switch to a non-combustible product may reduce their risk of smoking-related disease. This behavior, however, is significantly more common among whites compared to blacks, who have the highest rates of combustible tobacco use of any racial or ethnic group. Indeed, cigarette smoking rates are declining faster among whites than blacks, potentially driven by e-cig uptake. Differential rates of quitting smoking by switching to e-cigs or other non-combustible products may exacerbate existing health disparities between whites and blacks. Although tobacco use is influenced by several individual, interpersonal, and societal factors, the retail environment is known to play a critical role in shaping smoking behaviors, particularly among racial minorities, whom the tobacco industry has historically exploited. Despite the growing popularity of e-cigs and other non- cigarette tobacco products, little is known about the promotion of these products at the point-of-sale. This project will examine how the retail of diverse tobacco products varies across the U.S. and the extent to which it is associated with use behaviors of community residents. Specifically, this study will 1) investigate the relationship between regional tobacco product sales, tobacco control policies, and community demographics using Nielsen market scanner data and census data, 2) document the association between the local tobacco retail environment and tobacco product use using geocoded data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and store audits, and 3) model smoking-related disparities attributed to changes in tobacco use behaviors using repeated cross-sectional NHIS data and longitudinal data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study.

Public Health Relevance

The current tobacco marketplace in the United States is more diverse than ever, with consumption of cigars, smokeless tobacco, and electronic cigarettes remaining strong amid declining cigarette consumption. This study will characterize the promotion of tobacco products with varying levels of harm across diverse communities to examine the potential impacts on smoking-related health disparities.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health (OD)
Type
Early Independence Award (DP5)
Project #
5DP5OD023064-06
Application #
9993619
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Miller, Becky
Project Start
2016-09-16
Project End
2021-08-31
Budget Start
2020-09-01
Budget End
2021-08-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
621889815
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032
Giovenco, Daniel P; Ackerman, Christopher; Hrywna, Mary et al. (2018) Changes in the availability and promotion of non-cigarette tobacco products near high schools in New Jersey, USA. Tob Control 27:578-579
Giovenco, Daniel P; Delnevo, Cristine D (2018) Prevalence of population smoking cessation by electronic cigarette use status in a national sample of recent smokers. Addict Behav 76:129-134
Giovenco, Daniel P; Spillane, Torra E; Mauro, Christine M et al. (2018) Cigarillo sales in legalized marijuana markets in the U.S. Drug Alcohol Depend 185:347-350
Giovenco, Daniel P (2018) Smoke Shop Misclassification May Cloud Studies on Vape Shop Density. Nicotine Tob Res 20:1025-1026