Trends and associated risks in adolescent substance use: E-cigarette use and nitrous oxide use.

Introduction:
This text is a review of two new trends in adolescent substance use: e-cigarette use and nitrous oxide (N20) use. The review discusses the prevalence rates, potential health risks, risk perception, and correlates of use for both substances. The review aims to provide information that can be useful for targeted prevention of adolescent substance use.

Key Points:

* E-cigarette use and N20 use are two emerging trends in adolescent substance use.
* E-cigarette use is often tried out before traditional cigarettes, is easily available, and regarded as harmless by adolescents, but studies show negative health effects of regular e-cigarette use, including the risk of becoming a smoker of traditional cigarettes and nicotine addiction.
* N20 use has also become increasingly popular, and follows after cannabis and ecstasy use in prevalence rates. Most users are not aware of potential health risks of N20 use, while particularly longer-term and heavy use may yield negative neurological and psychiatric effects.
* The misconception of risks, and high availability of both inhalants warrant better education to prevent poor outcomes.

Study Design:

* The review is a themed issue on adolescent Development.
* The review is edited by Lydia Krabbendam and Barbara Braams.
* The review is published in Current Opinion in Psychology.
* The review provides an overview of prevalence rates, potential health risks, risk perception, and correlates of use for e-cigarette use and N20 use in adolescents.

Major Points:

* E-cigarette use among adolescents has increased worldwide, and is now the most common form of tobacco use in this age group.
* Regular e-cigarette use can lead to nicotine addiction, transition to smoking conventional cigarettes, and normalize smoking behavior.
* N20 use has also become increasingly popular, and is often used at parties, festivals, or other social gatherings of youth.
* N20 use can lead to negative neurological and psychiatric effects, particularly with longer-term and heavy use.
* adolescents often perceive e-cigarettes and N20 as relatively harmless, and education about health risks is needed to prevent poor outcomes.

Main Message:

The main message of this review is that e-cigarette use and N20 use are two emerging trends in adolescent substance use, and better education is needed to prevent poor outcomes. adolescents often perceive these substances as harmless, but studies show negative health effects of regular use. The misconception of risks, and high availability of both inhalants, warrant education and prevention efforts to ensure the health and well-being of adolescents.

huizink aC. Trends and associated risks in adolescent substance use: E-cigarette use and nitrous oxide use. Current opinion in psychology. 2022;45:101312. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101312