Concurrent Daily Alcohol and Tobacco Use Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Women

• NCJ Number: 254292
• Journal: Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 55 Issue: 1 Dated: 2019 Pages: 66-78
• Author(s): Amy L. Hequembourg; Jessica A. Blayney; Wendy Bostwick; Mark Van Ryzin
• Date Published: 2019
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2014-VA-CX-0067
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Award: Identifying Sexual Assault Mechanisms Among Diverse Women

Annotation

The goal of this study was to identify patterns of daily concurrent alcohol and tobacco use among sexual minority women (SMW) and heterosexual women, including socio-environmental drinking contexts of concurrent use.

Abstract

Studies show that sexual minority women (SMW) report more hazardous alcohol use patterns and higher rates of tobacco use than exclusively heterosexual women. Despite the public health implications of drinking and smoking, especially when they co-occur, little is known about SMW's daily use patterns or the factors that may facilitate concurrent use. The current study obtained data from a community sample of lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual women (N-246), who completed up to 84 consecutive days of web-based reports about substance use. Participants reported 4,012 drinking days (24 percent), 2,019 smoking days (12 percent), and 769 concurrent drinking and smoking days (5 percent). No differences were found between SMW and heterosexual women in the proportion of drinking days; however, SMW consumed more drinks on drinking days. SMW also reported a greater proportion of smoking days, more cigarettes smoked on smoking days, and a greater proportion of concurrent drinking and smoking days. Reciprocal daily relationships between alcohol and tobacco use were identified, and these relationships were strongest for bisexual women. Socio-environmental factorsincluding certain locations, situations, and companionsincreased the likelihood of concurrent use for all women; however, few sexual identity differences were found in concurrent use contexts. These results expand our understanding about daily concurrent alcohol and tobacco use risk among SMW, and potentially inform treatment research to better address the unique experiences of this vulnerable group. (publisher abstract modified)