Predictors of vaping marijuana initiation among US adolescents: Results from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) study Wave 3 (2015-2016) and Wave 4 (2016-2018).

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) Study regarding the predictors of marijuana vaping initiation among US adolescents. The study aims to identify the factors contributing to the initiation of marijuana vaping among this population.

Key Points:

* The study focuses on adolescents who had never vaped marijuana during Wave 3 and examines the longitudinal predictors of marijuana vaping initiation among this sample in Wave 4.
* The study identifies several predictors of marijuana vaping initiation, including current use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), cigarettes, other tobacco products, alcohol, and other drugs.
* Social group influences, such as parental and peer use of ENDS, and clinical indicators, such as internalizing and externalizing tendencies, are also identified as predictors of marijuana vaping initiation.
* The study finds that adolescents who use other tobacco products and other substances are more likely to initiate marijuana vaping.
* The study also identifies older age, hispanic ethnicity, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, having vaping peers, and low parental education level as risk factors for initiating marijuana vaping.
* The study suggests that similar strategies used for tobacco and drug use prevention may be useful for marijuana vaping prevention.
* The study highlights the need for interventions to provide education on the harms associated with marijuana vaping and for regulations to focus on preventing the sale of marijuana vaping products online to minors.

Main Message:
The study highlights the urgent need to address marijuana vaping initiation among adolescents. The findings suggest that the risk factors for marijuana vaping initiation are similar to those for tobacco and other substance use initiation. Therefore, similar strategies used for tobacco and drug use prevention may be useful for marijuana vaping prevention. however, vaping marijuana interventions and regulations must take into account unique factors, such as the presence of informal sources to purchase marijuana concentrates, lower risk perceptions of marijuana use, and issues related to EVaLI and marijuana legalization. The study emphasizes the importance of providing education on the harms associated with marijuana vaping and implementing regulations to prevent the sale of marijuana vaping products online to minors.

Lee J, Kong G, Kassas B, Salloum RG. Predictors of vaping marijuana initiation among US adolescents: Results from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) study Wave 3 (2015-2016) and Wave 4 (2016-2018). Drug and alcohol dependence. 2021;226:108905. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108905