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. 2020;55(14):2395-2402.
doi: 10.1080/10826084.2020.1823417. Epub 2020 Sep 24.

Are Waterpipe Café, Vape Shop, and Traditional Tobacco Retailer Locations Associated with Community Composition and Young Adult Tobacco Use in North Carolina and Virginia?

Jessica L King  1 , Kimberly G Wagoner  2 , Cynthia K Suerken  3 , Eunyoung Y Song  2 , Beth A Reboussin  3 , John Spangler  4 , Stephannie Walker  2 , Jennifer Cornacchione Ross  2 , Mark Wolfson  5 , Erin L Sutfin  2
Affiliations

Are Waterpipe Café, Vape Shop, and Traditional Tobacco Retailer Locations Associated with Community Composition and Young Adult Tobacco Use in North Carolina and Virginia?

Jessica L King et al. Subst Use Misuse. 2020.

Abstract

We examined whether waterpipe café, vape shop, and traditional tobacco retailer (e.g. stores selling cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco) locations were associated with census tract composition and tobacco use among young adults in North Carolina and Virginia. Methods: We identified waterpipe cafés, vape shops, and traditional tobacco retailers in North Carolina and Virginia and conducted multivariable analyses between community characteristics (gender, race, ethnicity, education, college enrollment, and poverty) and density per 1000 population. Using fall 2017 data from 1099 young adults residing in North Carolina and Virginia, we conducted logistic regression analyses to determine whether tobacco retailer density and proximity were associated with tobacco use. Results: Waterpipe café, vape shop, and traditional retailer density were higher in communities with more people who were Hispanic, college-educated, and college-enrolled (each p < .05). Waterpipe café and traditional retailer density were higher in communities with more people living below the poverty level (each p < .05). Waterpipe café density was higher in communities with more people who were male (p < .05), while traditional retailer density was lower (p < .05). Waterpipe café and vape shop proximity were associated with increased likelihood of waterpipe tobacco use in the past 6 months (each p < .05; unadjusted). Traditional retailer proximity and waterpipe café, vape shop, and traditional retailer density were not associated with tobacco use. Conclusions: Waterpipe cafés and vape shops are located in both impoverished and college-educated communities in North Carolina and Virginia, similar to where traditional tobacco retailers are located. Further research is needed to examine associations with tobacco use.

Keywords: Young adult; electronic cigarettes (electronic nicotine delivery systems – preferred); tobacco use; waterpipe.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Locations of waterpipe cafés, vape shops, and traditional tobacco retailers in North Carolina and Virginia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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