Recent research from UTHealth Houston that was published in the journal Social Science & Medicine has identified alcohol consumption as the most significant predictor of increased cannabis vaping among young individuals. This finding is noteworthy as it remains consistent across various demographic factors.
Cannabis vaping, which involves the use of electronic devices that deliver liquid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has seen a dramatic rise in popularity among youth across the U.S. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the practice has shifted substantially over the past decade.
“A decade ago, 10% of cannabis users vaped it. Now, the number is about 75%, at least for youth and young adults. That is a major public health concern for many reasons.”
Dale Mantey, PhD, assistant professor of health promotion and behavioral sciences, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
The habit of vaping cannabis among young people can disrupt cognitive development and negatively affect performance in critical areas such as learning and memory. Furthermore, it can lead to serious health issues, including chronic pulmonary damage stemming from unregulated liquid THC products, increased dependence on cannabis, and potential legal issues due to its classification as a Schedule I drug.
To comprehend the factors influencing cannabis use among young people, researchers conducted a thorough analysis involving middle to high school students from various Texas cities, including Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, between 2019 and 2021. They assessed students’ experiences with cannabis vaping alongside their demographic information, mental health indicators like anxiety and depression, and substance use patterns, particularly focusing on alcohol and nicotine consumption.
At the beginning of the study, a substantial 72.7% of respondents indicated they had never engaged in cannabis vaping, while 12.7% had tried it in the past, and 14.5% were current users. The evolution of these figures revealed a concerning trend: the likelihood of cannabis vaping experimentation was notably higher among non-Hispanic Black students compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts and other racial groups throughout the study duration.
Alcohol emerged as a common factor among individuals who had not previously vaped cannabis, often described as a “gateway” substance. Mantey emphasized the need for comprehensive intervention strategies aimed at delaying substance initiation among youths. “The ultimate goal is to delay initiation of substances in youth because the later someone initiates a substance, the less likely they are to become addicted to it,” Mantey stated, advocating for approaches that address both cannabis and alcohol prevention in educational settings.
Depression was identified as a predictor of cannabis vaping initiation among both Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black demographics. The study’s authors concluded that further research is essential to investigate the role mental health issues play in influencing cannabis vaping behavior across different demographic groups, facilitating more targeted public health interventions.
Additional contributors to this important research from UTHealth Houston included Stephanie L. Clendennen, DrPH, MPH; Baojiang Chen, PhD; Sana Amin, MPH; and Melissa B. Harrell, PhD, MPH.
Source:
Journal reference:
Mantey, D. S., et al. (2024). Cannabis Vaping Use in Emerging Adulthood: Characterizing Transitions Between Stages of Vaping among a Diverse Cohort in Texas. Social Science & Medicine. doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117326.
The Puzzling Intersection of Alcohol and Cannabis Vaping Among Youth: A Comedic Take on Serious Science
Ah, today’s youth! With their fancy gadgets, slick haircuts, and an insatiable urge to explore the boundary between what’s legal and what’s not, while still managing to sneak a 3 a.m. binge of TikTok. A new study from UTHealth Houston—yes, that’s the University of Texas, not the Healthiest Texas—unveils a curious correlation: Alcohol is the leading predictor of cannabis vaping among our young folks. Shocking—who’d have thought? It’s not like we’ve been telling our teenagers for ages that ‘beer goggles’ can lead you anywhere, including a cloud of THC-laden vapor!
The research, published in the journal Social Science & Medicine—which honestly sounds like the name of a hip coffee shop—adds that back in your grandparents’ day, only 10% of cannabis users vaped it; now it’s a whopping 75%! In ten years, that’s like going from a casual chat over a cuppa to a full-blown rave in a basement. And who wouldn’t want to join in on that? Vaping cannabis, or as I like to call it, “taking the scenic route to paranoia,” has become the go-to activity for many of our youthful adventurers.
“A decade ago, 10% of cannabis users vaped it. Now, the number is about 75%, at least for youth and young adults. That is a major public health concern for many reasons.”
Dale Mantey, PhD
Mantey, bless his research-loving heart, highlights the dangers of cannabis vapor—a slick, intriguing substance indeed! With cognitive development, performance, and long-term chronic lung issues all apparently at stake, one might wonder if this is just cannabis’s way of saying, “Not today, brain cells!” However, spare a thought for the poor sods facing incarceration due to federal prohibitions on cannabis, you know… because being young, rebellious, and in jail is just SO last season.
The researchers examined a group of middle to high school students across Texas, taking a deep dive into their lifestyles—a bit like a reality show without the cameras. The study asked about their smoking habits and, much to no one’s surprise, discovered that alcohol was the ultimate tool for temptation. Apparently, it’s not just the gateway to questionable life choices but also the gateway to puffing on THC vapor.
Now, if we’re getting technical, more students are moving from “never” to “current” cannabis vaping—equating alcohol to a sort of devilish Pied Piper leading youth to the sticky black market valley of liquid THC. Mantey warns we need “comprehensive interventions…” and honestly, if we’re throwing comprehensive interventions around, I hope one of them includes free nachos and a PowerPoint presentation on how not to mix tequila and THC!
“If we know what predicts that behavior, those are the things we can try to target for addressing and preventing cannabis vaping among youth.”
Dale Mantey, PhD
Let’s get deeper into this very serious issue—because nothing says “let’s tackle drug addiction” quite like a heart-to-heart with a bunch of teenagers whose primary concern is how to up their TikTok game. At the outset of this study, 72.7% reported never having vaped cannabis, while 14.5% admitted to being current vapers—a solid chunk, if I may say so. But guess which demographic appears to be vaping more frequently? Our friends from the non-Hispanic Black community! Pass me the popcorn—this intervention is just getting good!
And looking at depression? It seems our not-so-cheery young ones are also more likely to turn to cannabis vaping. I mean, the only thing sadder than a rainy day is a rainy day spent vaping alone. More research is required all around, but it looks like we’re tunneling into a rabbit hole of mental health issues landing smack dab in the middle of cannabis use. If only we could have a magic wand to tackle all these bad decisions, or at least a solid intervention with some life coaches and chill playlists!
So, what can we gather from this study? Well, if we want to curtail the slippery slope from “one drink” to “let’s vaporize every last bit of THC,” we had better step up our game by educating the young ones engaging with alcohol and cannabis. Because, after all, the pot’s not the problem; it’s the pot mixed with vodka that seems to be acting like the worst bouncer at a club!
Finally, kudos to the researchers at UTHealth Houston for shedding light on this sticky (pun absolutely intended) social phenomenon. Here’s hoping our future generations will find their fun in ways that don’t involve clouding their judgment. Balance is key, right? Or at least a balanced diet—and honestly, those cheese puffs count as a vegetable in my book!
Source: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Journal reference: Mantey, D. S., et al. (2024). Cannabis Vaping Use in Emerging Adulthood: Characterizing Transitions Between Stages of Vaping among a Diverse Cohort in Texas. Social Science & Medicine. doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117326.
This HTML piece serves as a cheeky commentary on the study while weaving humor into the serious topic of substance use among youth. It reflects a mix of observational wit while maintaining depth in discussing the implications of the research.
What are the most effective strategies for preventing cannabis vaping among adolescents?
Concerns, we’d be set! Alas, the complexities of youth don’t come with an instruction manual, just a whole lot of memes.
while we giggle at the absurdity of it all, the message is clear: alcohol and cannabis vaping are weaving a tangled web among our adolescents, and the stakes are high. As we flippantly navigate the serious science of substance use, let’s not forget that it’s not just about the laughs and the TikToks, but about fostering healthy choices for the next generation—hopefully with more nachos and fewer scary statistics.
So, what’s the takeaway? As our beloved Dr. Mantey states: “If we know what predicts that behavior, those are the things we can try to target for addressing and preventing cannabis vaping among youth.” And I think we can all agree, both for science and for the health of our teens, it’s time to get proactive—preferably with snacks, a sense of humor, and perhaps a dance-off or two!
