Correlates of the use of electronic devices to vape cannabis in a cohort of young Swiss male reporting current cannabis use.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research study examining the correlates of using electronic devices to vape cannabis among a cohort of young Swiss males who reported current cannabis use. The study used logistic regression to assess the association between sensation seeking, substance use, and sociodemographic variables with cannabis vaping. The results highlight the significance of cannabis vaping as a potential marker of riskier behaviors among cannabis users.

Key Points:

* The study was conducted among 1,613 young Swiss males who reported current cannabis use.
* Cannabis vaping was associated with using cannabis at least twice a week, modes of cannabis administration other than joints with tobacco, meeting criteria for cannabis use disorder, using illegal drugs other than cannabis, weekly standard drinks, and living in a German-speaking area of Switzerland.
* Participants who had an education higher than primary schooling were associated with lower odds of vaping cannabis.
* Sensation seeking, a measure of impulsivity, was not associated with cannabis vaping.
* The study suggests that cannabis vaping is a marker of a constellation of risky behaviors, such as the consumption of higher quantities of alcohol or other illegal drugs, and with the intensity of cannabis use or the presence of cannabis use disorder.
* The fact that cannabis is still illegal in Switzerland might partially account for the low prevalence of cannabis vaping.
* Legal aspects, male gender, and daily herbal cannabis use have been associated with vaping cannabis.
* Participants reported that vaping cannabis was more convenient than smoking cannabis and that the use of an e-cigarette made cannabis easier to conceal or hide.

Main Message:
The study emphasizes the significance of cannabis vaping as a potential marker of riskier behaviors among cannabis users. It is essential to perceive cannabis vaping not as an innocuous activity but as a public health concern. The study suggests that cannabis vaping is associated with the use of higher quantities of alcohol or other illegal drugs, and with the intensity of cannabis use or the presence of cannabis use disorder. Therefore, regulatory measures must be in place to mitigate the risks associated with cannabis vaping, especially among young adults. The study's findings could inform policymakers and public health officials in developing effective strategies to reduce the harms associated with cannabis vaping.

Fuster D, Studer J, Gmel G, Bertholet N. Correlates of the use of electronic devices to vape cannabis in a cohort of young Swiss male reporting current cannabis use. European journal of public health. 2021;31(2):437-441. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckaa176