U.S. teens smoke marijuana or multiple substances through vape

According to a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, teens who use vape use more addictive or psychotropic substances than ever before. The data depicts pictures that are different from previous studies because the proportion of adolescents (75%) who use vape with nicotine, cannabis, or multiple substances (not just flavorings) is significantly higher. These findings have increased public concern about youth smoking.

This study looked at patterns of nicotine, marijuana, and flavoring among young people in the past 30 days by analyzing data from a 2017 Monitoring Future (MTF) cross-sectional study. Of the 14,560 adolescents participating in the study, 12% said they had smoked in the past 30 days, of which 7.4% used nicotine and 3.6% used marijuana. In this group, only 24.9% reported that they were only using flavored e-liquid, while the majority (75.1%) reported using nicotine, cannabis, or multiple substances.

Current smoking intensity is linked to the increased risk of reporting smoking for all three substances. Compared with 8th grade students, more 10th and 12th grade students reported that they were smoking nicotine, marijuana, and flavorings during the study period. Female students are also less likely to report these three substances than male students. Fewer non-Hispanic blacks reported using nicotine e-liquid than non-Hispanic whites. Hispanics are also less likely to report nicotine.

During 2017-2019, the use of vape among young Americans has risen sharply, in part due to the increasing popularity of nicotine salt e-liquid based products (such as JUUL) and the large number of flavors that appeal to teens. Increased use nationwide has led American surgeons to issue consultations on the epidemic in 2018, but more work is needed to reverse this upward trend.

With a recent series of nebulization-related lung injuries, calls for restrictions on flavored aerosol products and the use of vapes have become even more urgent. Identifying youth-lost substances is essential for developing, implementing and evaluating national strategies and interventions to curb youth use of these products.

Dr Mohammad Siahpush, a co-researcher at the University's School of Public Health, added: "Continuous monitoring of young people's behavior and strategies and interventions to reduce adolescents' use of vape are needed. The truth is that no form of tobacco is safe."

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