Summary
Introduction:
This text summarizes a study examining the prospective associations between e-cigarette use, cigarette use, and marijuana use among a national sample of U.S. 12th graders. The study also explores the relationship between e-cigarette use and marijuana use risk perceptions. The key findings of this study are outlined below.
Key Points:
* The study used data from the Monitoring the Future panel study of 12th graders in 2014 who were followed up 1 year later.
* The study found that e-cigarette use, even when not in conjunction with cigarette use, was associated with marijuana use risk during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood.
* E-cigarette-only users were less likely to perceive any marijuana as risky at follow-up compared with nonusers.
* E-cigarette-only users were more likely to report past 30-day marijuana use at follow-up compared with nonusers.
* Those who used cigarettes in the past 30 days were also more likely to report past 30-day marijuana use at follow-up compared with nonusers.
* The study controlled for sex, race/ethnicity, binge drinking, and 12th grade marijuana use or marijuana use risk perceptions.
* The study was limited by the small sample size of cigarette-only users, the absence of those who dropped out of school before 12th grade, lack of information on what substance(s) individuals vaped, and the reliance on self-report of substance use.
Main Message:
The study highlights the potential risks associated with e-cigarette use among adolescents. The findings suggest that e-cigarette use, even when not used in conjunction with cigarettes, may be a marker of marijuana use risk during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. As such, regulatory measures should be put in place to limit e-cigarette use among adolescents. Additionally, public health campaigns should educate adolescents about the potential risks associated with e-cigarette use and marijuana use. Overall, the study underscores the need for continued research into the health impacts of e-cigarette use, particularly among adolescents.
Citation
Evans-Polce RJ, Veliz PT, Boyd CJ, McCabe SE. E-Cigarette and Cigarette Use Among U.S. Adolescents: Longitudinal Associations With Marijuana Use and Perceptions. American journal of preventive medicine. 2020;58(6):854-857. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2020.01.013
