Tobacco

In the U.S., substance use, including the use of opioids, cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco, is an important public health problem. Although cigarette smoking has decreased since the mid-1960s, use of other tobacco products such as  e-cigarettes) is increasing, as are rates of cannabis, alcohol use, and other drug use. Opioid overdoses have escalated dramatically since the early 2000s, contributing to a national public health crisis in the US. Patterns of substance use are not equally distribution:  people with lower income and education levels, and those from racially and ethnically minoritized populations are often more likely to use substances and experience related harms than people from other backgrounds. These disparities in substance use  contribute to inequities in preventable morbidity and mortality, underscoring the need for research and interventions to address substance use and its health consequences.

CSEPH faculty are leading several research projects aimed at understanding the role of policies and other social and structural determinants of substance use disparities and downstream health equity. These research activities address a range of questions including:  What combinations of policies can decrease socioeconomic inequities in cigarette smoking in the U.S.? What is the role of newer products, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, on tobacco-related health disparities? What multilevel factors are associated with uptake of substance use prevention and treatment services? What are optimal state and local laws that can  minimize opioid overdose deaths? How has recreational cannabis legalization affected rates of cannabis-related harms?