Summary
Introduction:
This text is a summary of a longitudinal study examining the sequence of e-cigarette, cigarette, and marijuana use in a sample of adolescents. The study aims to determine if use of e-cigarettes often precedes use of other substances. The key points and main message of the text are summarized below.
Key Points:
* The study followed a sample of adolescents from 8th to 11th grade, with a total of 8 surveys.
* The study found that almost 10% of adolescents reported using e-cigarettes prior to use of cigarettes or marijuana.
* More youth transitioned from e-cigarette use to marijuana use than to cigarettes.
* Participants who were co-using e-cigarettes and marijuana in 11th grade had an increased likelihood of consuming marijuana via vaping, dabbing, and edibles.
* Youth who used both e-cigarettes and marijuana in 11th grade were significantly more likely to vape, dab, and eat marijuana compared to marijuana users who were not concurrently using e-cigarettes.
* The study controlled for potential confounding factors, such as gender, age, and race/ethnicity.
* The study received funding from the National Institute on Drug abuse of the National Institutes of health.
Main Message:
The main message of the text is that e-cigarettes were often the first substance used in this longitudinal sample, and more of these youth subsequently used marijuana compared to cigarettes. While research has focused on the progression from e-cigarettes to cigarettes in youth, these findings indicate that more attention should be focused on the subsequent initiation of marijuana. These results have important implications for regulators and policymakers in developing effective strategies to reduce e-cigarette and marijuana use among adolescents.
Citation
Westling E, Rusby JC, Crowley R, Light JM. a Longitudinal Study of E-Cigarette, Cigarette, and Marijuana Use Sequence in Youth. Tobacco use insights. 2022;15. doi:10.1177/1179173X221101813
