Latest news with #youngAdults
Medscape
3 days ago
- General
- Medscape
How Are Young Adults Quitting Vaping?
In 2022, nearly one third of young adults in the United States used electronic nicotine products, and almost one third of the young adults who used them attempted to quit, with social support being the most commonly used cessation method. METHODOLOGY: Researchers performed a secondary analysis and analyzed Wave 7 data, collected between January 2022 and April 2023, from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study to assess vaping cessation methods used by young adults. They included 10,310 young adults aged 18-24 years who reported using electronic nicotine products and attempting to quit or successfully quitting the use of electronic nicotine products in the past 12 months. Six methods used to quit vaping, namely, social support from family and friends, behavioral support, smartphone applications , nicotine replacement therapy, nicotine product substitution, and prescription medications, were assessed. Results were reported as unweighted numbers and weighted percentages to provide population estimates. TAKEAWAY: Of 10,310 participants, 3024 reported using electronic nicotine products in the past 12 months, and 855 (mean age, 20.9 years; 52.3% women) reported quitting or attempting to quit in the past 12 months. Of those who reported quitting or attempting to quit, 20% did not use electronic nicotine products in the past 30 days, indicating an 80% rate of unsuccessful quit attempts. Support from family and friends was the most common method used by young adults to quit vaping (29.8%). Nicotine product substitution was used by 11.0% of participants, with nicotine pouches and cigarettes being the most common substitutes. Behavioral support, smartphone applications, and nicotine replacement therapy were less commonly used methods, reported by 9.6%, 8.9%, and 5.0% of participants, respectively, while prescription medications were the least used cessation method (1.7%). IN PRACTICE: 'More frequent use of social support by young adults suggests this may be an important component of future cessation treatment programs,' the authors wrote. 'Given the popularity of ENPs [electronic nicotine products] among YAs [young adults], there is a need for both evidence-based cessation treatments and improved implementation of effective treatments to help reduce ENP use,' they added. SOURCE: This study was led by Brian S. Williams, MD, of the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Wisconsin. It was published online on May 29, 2025, in JAMA Network Open . LIMITATIONS: This study relied on self-reported data with a possibility of recall bias. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health. One author reported receiving grants from the same source.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: No congratulations for young adults' new tattoos
Dear Miss Manners: It seems more and more of my friends' young adult children are getting tattoos. Often my friends share the news like the tattoo is some sort of accomplishment and, if the young adult is present, will summon them over to show off the new ink to (presumably) collect compliments.
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Colon Cancer Rates Rise In Young Adults; New Research Brings Hope
Heather Candrilli, 36, a mother of two, is battling metastatic colon cancer—underscoring the urgent need for education, research, and advocacy for young adults facing rising rates of the disease. Her journey began two years ago with persistent abdominal bloating and rectal bleeding. 'I had just delivered my son and assumed the symptoms were postpartum related,' she recalls. Even during a visit to urgent care, she mentioned the bleeding and was told by a clinician, 'It's probably just from internal hemorrhoids.' Over the following year, her symptoms worsened. After speaking with her physician, an ultrasound and colonoscopy confirmed that Candrilli had colon cancer that had already spread to her liver. Heather has completed 21 rounds of chemotherapy and had the tumor surgically removed from her colon. However, her liver tumors remain. She's now on the liver transplant list—awaiting a donor match and funds to cover her medical costs—the next hopeful step toward becoming cancer-free. Photo of Heather Candrilli Cory Candrili 'Scientists are especially motivated to find the cause of colon cancer because its incidence is rising—particularly among younger adults who traditionally haven't been considered high-risk,' said Dr. Austin Chiang, gastroenterologist and author of Gut: An Owner's Guide. While some cases may be linked to genetic mutations, many, like Candrilli's, are not. She has no family history of colon cancer and tested negative for genetic mutations. Scientists are now exploring how the gut microbiome—the trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in our digestive system—may influence cancer risk. These microbes help digest food, regulate the immune system, and in some cases, produce toxins that interact with our bodies in unexpected ways. 'Interactions with gut bacteria might be playing a bigger role than previously thought,' adds Dr. Chiang. Emerging research supports this hypothesis. A recent Nature study highlights colibactin, a toxin produced by certain gut bacteria, like E. coli, which may damage DNA in colon cells and contribute to cancer development. 'Screening and modifiable lifestyle factors remain essential methods of colorectal cancer prevention,' said Dr. Angella Charnot-Katsikas, Clinical Pathologist and expert in molecular genetics at Loyola University Medicine. 'But the Nature article shows that microbiome-derived 'genotoxins' may initiate cancer, even without traditional risk factors,' Dr. Charnot-Katsikas adds. She explains that researchers used whole-genome sequencing on 981 colorectal cancer genomes and linked specific DNA 'signatures' to colibactin-producing bacteria. She says, 'colibactin can leave a permanent 'fingerprint' in the colon that may induce cancer.' While these findings are compelling, she adds, 'we still don't know the cause of most early-onset colorectal cancers not tied to inherited genes.' And while the Nature paper made a major contribution, she awaits more research before these findings alter clinical strategies. Until then, early detection remains vital. Dr. Chiang shares, 'the best place to start is with a gastroenterologist, especially if there's a family history. Screening is crucial, and guidelines now recommend beginning regular colon cancer screening at age 45.' He also recommends resources like the American Cancer Society or the National Cancer Institute. Screening at age 45 is an improvement from the previous recommendation of 50. Yet the lowered age still overlooks people like Candrilli—and thousands of others—diagnosed with advanced colon cancer before age 45. New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton has introduced a bill that would lower the colorectal cancer screening age to 35. While the change would apply only to New York residents, Scarcella-Spanton says legislation passed in her state 'could put pressure on other states' to follow suit. If passed, her bill would require insurance companies to cover costs of colorectal cancer screening starting at 35. Insurance coverage is critical; under current policies, Candrilli had to pay $500 out of pocket for her colonoscopy—an amount that could deter some patients from seeking care. Lowering the screening age could also help shift public perception: colon cancer is no longer just a disease of the elderly. Heather and Cory Candrilli with their children Family Photo For Candrilli, her hope is not only to heal—but to help young adults recognize symptoms of colon cancer early. 'If you don't know what cancer symptoms are, unfortunately you may be incorrectly deterred,' she adds. She urges patients to advocate for themselves. 'Don't brush off small symptoms. If you have rectal bleeding or bloating after eating small meals, this isn't normal. You aren't supposed to feel mediocre. You are supposed to feel good.'
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
New clues point to why colorectal cancer is rising in young people
It's one of the most pressing medical mysteries of our time: Why are so many young people getting colorectal cancer? Colorectal cancer rates have been declining among U.S. adults over age 50 since the 1980s. But, for younger adults, the trend is rapidly going in the wrong direction. While the overall numbers are still relatively low, colorectal cancer will become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s by 2030.
Washington Post
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
D.C. housemates turn to older means of connection: a print magazine
They tried a lot of things to find community in Washington: recreational kickball, trivia night and other rites of social passage for young people in the busy city. None of it really stuck. So, this group home of five 20-somethings in D.C.'s Adams Morgan neighborhood found something else that embodies the classic spirit of District residents — an off-hours activity that combines whimsy and work.
