The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine
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Although rates of adolescent cigarette use have remained constant or decreased, rates of marijuana and e-cigarette use are rising. Knowledge and perceptions of risks and benefits of tobacco products impact adolescents' decisions to use these products. However, little is known regarding adolescents' knowledge and perceptions of risks of e-cigarettes and marijuana nor how these perceptions are formed. This study uses qualitative techniques to assess and compare adolescents' perceptions of the risks and benefits of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and marijuana. ⋯ Adolescents have learned from multiple sources about risks of using cigarettes, but they receive much less and often incorrect information regarding marijuana and e-cigarettes, likely resulting in their positive and often ambivalent perceptions of marijuana and e-cigarettes.
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To examine adolescents' annual use of medical marijuana and determine if legal medical marijuana users are at lower risk for frequent marijuana use and other substance use when compared to adolescents who use diverted medical marijuana or from an illicit source. ⋯ This study is the first to provide nationally representative data on three groups of adolescent marijuana users. Although most adolescents use illicit sources, more adolescents appear to be using diverted medical marijuana, than using medical marijuana legally.
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The purpose of this study was to characterize the association between pelvic examination and adolescent contraceptive method use in two time periods in the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). ⋯ This finding provides some reassurance that although indications for pelvic examination and Pap smear among adolescents have decreased, the previously documented association between pelvic examination and effective or highly effective contraception appears to have decreased.
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This study examined associations of gender identity and sexual orientation with self-reported eating disorder (SR-ED) diagnosis and compensatory behaviors in transgender and cisgender college students. ⋯ Transgender and cisgender SM young adults have elevated rates of compensatory behavior and SR-ED diagnosis. Appropriate interventions for these populations are urgently needed.