Introduction:
This article summarizes a longitudinal study on the relationship between electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and subsequent marijuana use among youth. The study uses data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) survey and examines the associations between e-cigarette use at baseline and marijuana use at follow-up, stratified by age groups. The study also explores the dose-response relationship between the amount of e-cigarettes used and subsequent marijuana use.
Key Points:
* The study included 10,364 never marijuana users at baseline and followed them up for one year.
* E-cigarette ever use at baseline was associated with increased likelihood of marijuana use in the past 12 months (P12M) and heavy use at follow-up.
* There was a significant interaction between e-cigarette use and age, with a stronger association between e-cigarette use and marijuana use among younger adolescents.
* The association between baseline e-cigarette use and P12M marijuana use at wave 2 was significant among both younger adolescents aged 12 to 14 years and older adolescents aged 15 to 17 years.
* The association between baseline e-cigarette use and subsequent heavy marijuana use was significant among young adolescents but not among older adolescents.
* A dose-response relationship was found between the amount of e-cigarettes used and subsequent marijuana use in younger adolescents.
* The study controlled for social-demographic factors, sensation seeking, and other substance use.
Main Message:
The study suggests that e-cigarette use independently predicts subsequent marijuana use among youth. The association is stronger among younger adolescents, indicating that policies and education aimed at reducing e-cigarette use among youth may have downstream effects on marijuana use. The study highlights the importance of preventing e-cigarette use among youth to reduce the risk of subsequent marijuana use and its potential adverse health effects.
Citation
Dai, Hongying, Delwyn Catley, Kimber P. Richter, Kathy Goggin, and Edward F. Ellerbeck. “Electronic Cigarettes and Future Marijuana Use: A Longitudinal Study.” Pediatrics 141, no. 5 (May 1, 2018): e20173787. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-3787.
