Tobacco health inequities disproportionately impact people who suffer from poor mental health, inject or use drugs, identify as 2SLGBTQ+, who experienced childhood traumas, immigrants, individuals who identify as Indigenous people, and those who begin smoking before the age of 18 years. Conventional smoking cessation programs remain ineffective and have shown low quit rates among marginalized… Continue reading Community-Based Participatory Action Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial using Nicotine Mouth Spray for Tobacco Dependence in the Marginalized Population with a Holistic Approach.
Tobacco health inequities disproportionately impact people who suffer from poor mental health, inject or use drugs, identify as 2SLGBTQ+, who experienced childhood traumas, immigrants, individuals who identify as Indigenous people, and those who begin smoking before the age of 18 years.
Conventional smoking cessation programs remain ineffective and have shown low quit rates among marginalized urban populations. The MIST study is a Community-Based Participatory Action feasibility study that will use Nicotine Mouth Spray for tobacco dependence management and treatment in t marginalized populations. The study participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups, Nicotine mouth spray /counselling group or the PROMPT group (see PROMPT study). The primary objective of the MIST study is to compare the effectiveness of nicotine mouth spray and counselling with a peer-led Management and Point-of-Care for Tobacco Dependence (PROMPT) strategy. The PROMPT group will access community-building activities and counselling designed for marginalized populations. The feasibility study will build a foundation to guide the future of tobacco dependence management strategies and community programs in the marginalized populations who disproportionately suffer the socio-economic and health consequences of tobacco use.
This project is ongoing
Evidence shows, compared to the general population, mental illness disproportionately affects people who inject or use drugs, smoke, 2SLGBTQ+, those who experienced childhood traumas, immigrants, people who identify as Indigenous, and homeless populations & those at risk for homelessness. Even though recreational marijuana is legal in Canada, it might not be accessible or affordable for… Continue reading Cannabis and Mental Health in Marginalized Populations
Evidence shows, compared to the general population, mental illness disproportionately affects people who inject or use drugs, smoke, 2SLGBTQ+, those who experienced childhood traumas, immigrants, people who identify as Indigenous, and homeless populations & those at risk for homelessness. Even though recreational marijuana is legal in Canada, it might not be accessible or affordable for the vulnerable populations. Thus, they might resort to unsafe means to obtain it, which may provide them with marijuana that is contaminated with other fatal illicit drugs.
Moreover, research has shown that there is an association between marijuana use and mental illnesses. But it is unknown if marijuana is what is likely triggering the mental illness or if people with mental illness happen to use marijuana to self-medicate their mental illness symptoms (i.e., what came first, chicken or the egg situation).
To understand the relationship between the use of marijuana and mental illness. We will interview people from those marginalized populations living with mental illness and who have presently or in the past used marijuana.
The study will collaborate with the Bridge Engagement Centre (The BRIDGE). Marginalized populations who are the at core of the Bridge Research center will be invited to take part in this study. These individuals may be part of the street-involved (people who use drugs, sex workers and people who sell and buy street level drugs and involved in the justice system), homeless or at-risk for homelessness, and racialized communities. The study will only include those (1) currently living with a mental illness (including: post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, or experiencing more the one mental health condition including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), and those with (2) current or past history of marijuana use; and they must have the (3) ability to read and speak English.
Members of the Bridge will be engaged in all parts of this research project. From this study, we hope to understand why marginalized populations use or avoid marijuana, which help us increase our understanding into the patterns of marijuana use and its effects on the mental health of Ottawa’s marginalized populations.
This project is ongoing
Harold J. Farber, Smita Pakhale, and Enid R. Neptune; on behalf of the American Thoracic Society Tobacco Action Committee
An important approach to reduce youth tobacco use is the adoption of regulations to prohibit tobacco product sale to individuals younger than 21 years, termed Tobacco 21. In the United States, close to 90% of current smokers started smoking before the age of 18 years, and 99% before age 26 years. Earlier age of tobacco… Continue reading Tobacco 21: An Important Public Policy to Protect Our Youth
An important approach to reduce youth tobacco use is the adoption of regulations to prohibit tobacco product sale to individuals younger than 21 years, termed Tobacco 21. In the United States, close to 90% of current smokers started smoking before the age of 18 years, and 99% before age 26 years. Earlier age of tobacco use initiation is associated with lower rates of smoking cessation.
Increasing minimum age to purchase has been shown to reduce tobacco product use among youth. The critical determinant is likely the loss of social sources of tobacco products. Enforcement activities are important for age-of-purchase laws to be effective. Raising the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21 years is highly supported among both the smoking and nonsmoking public.
Tobacco sales to those younger than 21 years account for just 2% of total tobacco sales, yet produce 90% of new smokers. The short-term effect on small business of raising the minimum age to purchase would be minimal. Small businesses will have time to adapt to the decrease in tobacco sales as fewer youth grow up nicotine addicted. Raising the minimum age to purchase of tobacco and nicotine products to 21 years, combined with enforcement of those restrictions, will help protect future generations from a lifetime of tobacco dependence and associated morbidity. These regulations should apply to all tobacco products, including electronic nicotine delivery systems. Respiratory health care providers should educate their local, state, and federal policy makers on the importance of Tobacco 21.
View the article on Annals of the American Thoracic Society
