From the PubMed article abstract: "The aim of our study was to examine the association between problematic cell phone use (PCPU) for text messaging and substance abuse in young adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted on the basis of an ad hoc questionnaire, during the 2014-2015 school year in a province of the Veneto Region (Italy); it involved a sample of 1156 students in grades 6 to 8 (11 to 13 years old). A self-report scale based on the Short Message Service (SMS) Problem Use Diagnostic Questionnaire (SMS-PUDQ) was administered to assess the sample's PCPU."

mFHAST Implications: Methods for measuring Problematic Cell Phone Use

From the PubMed Abstract:"Tobacco smoking prevalence continues to be high, particularly among adolescents and young adults with lower educational levels, and is therefore a serious public health problem. Tobacco smoking and problem drinking often co-occur and relapses after successful smoking cessation are often associated with alcohol use. This study aims at testing the efficacy of an integrated smoking cessation and alcohol intervention by comparing it to a smoking cessation only intervention for young people, delivered via the Internet and mobile phone."

mFHAST Implications: Opportunity for text messages to deter smoking and drinking habits in youth

From the article objective: This study explored the acceptability and feasibility in a non treatment-seeking group of university students (including both risk and non risk drinkers), of a fully automated, push-based, multiple-session, alcohol intervention, comparing two modes of delivery by randomizing participants to receive the intervention either by SMS text messaging (short message service, SMS) or by email."

mFHAST Implication: Opportunity to use SMS as a health behavior intervention in college students who display unhealthy behaviors such as risky drinking.