Demographic and substance use-related differences among high school adolescents who vape cannabis versus use other cannabis modalities.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a study examining demographic and substance use differences between high school adolescents who vape cannabis and those who use other cannabis modalities. The study aimed to identify characteristics that differentiated adolescent past-month cannabis vapers from past-month users of other cannabis modalities and examined incremental risk for substance use outcomes associated with cannabis vaping.

Key Points:

* The study included 931 students who reported past-month cannabis use and endorsed using at least one cannabis modality.
* Cannabis vapers were more likely to be male, white, initiate cannabis use at an earlier age, and report past-month use of e-cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis dabs, cannabis edibles, and other non-combustible cannabis modalities.
* Cannabis vapers reported vaping cannabis on 10.29 (10.24) days in the past month, and were more likely to report using a greater total number of cannabis modalities, e-cigarette devices, and tobacco product types in the past month.
* Cannabis vapers were less likely to report past-month use of smokeless tobacco and combustible cannabis than were users of non-vaporized cannabis modalities.
* Cannabis vapers reported more frequent cannabis dabbing, cannabis smoking, earlier age of e-cigarette use onset, more frequent e-cigarette use, and consumption of a greater average number of alcoholic beverages on drinking days.
* The study found that 23.7% of cannabis vapers reported hacking an e-cigarette to vape cannabis.
* The study suggests that regulations should be implemented to prevent e-cigarettes from being modifiable for use with cannabis, and highlights the importance of assessing different cannabis use modalities, as vaping was associated with distinct substance-related risks.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the risks associated with different cannabis use modalities among adolescents. The findings suggest that cannabis vaping is associated with increased use of several cannabis products and other substances, and that regulations should be implemented to prevent e-cigarettes from being modifiable for use with cannabis. The study also emphasizes the importance of assessing different cannabis use modalities, as vaping was associated with distinct substance-related risks. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the demographic and substance use differences between high school adolescents who vape cannabis and those who use other cannabis modalities, and highlights the need for further research in this area.

Morean ME, Davis DR, Kong G, et al. Demographic and substance use-related differences among high school adolescents who vape cannabis versus use other cannabis modalities. Drug and alcohol dependence. 2021;228:109104. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109104