Teens increasingly vaping deadly drugs unknowingly

By Stephen Beech

Teenagers are increasingly vaping cannabis and similar drugs, warns a new report.

The study revealed an "alarming" surge in adolescent vaping of THC, CBD, and synthetic cannabinoids.

Now, experts are calling for public health policies to protect youngsters from vaping’s long-term harm.

The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, revealed that teenage vaping of current delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) has increased between 2021 and 2023.

Adolescents are also increasingly unsure about the substances they vape in their e-cigarettes, according to the findings.

Vaping of substances other than nicotine has become increasingly popular among teenagers.

The new study analysed trends of cannabis vaping from the National Youth Tobacco Survey for 2021, 2022, and 2023, comprising a total of 69,899 American middle and high school students, aged 11 to 18.

Lead investigator Jack Chung, of The University of Queensland in Australia, said: “We found a significant increase in adolescent vaping of THC, CBD, and SCs from 2021 to 2023.

"THC vaping peaked in 2022 while the use of SCs continued to increase.

"Adolescents increasingly expressed uncertainty about the substances they were vaping; for example, uncertain respondents answering ’don’t know’ if they have vaped SCs tripled across the years.

"Our results also showed that females had a higher prevalence of THC, CBD, and SCs vaping compared to males.”

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In 2023, it is estimated that 2.55 million US adolescents (7.4%) were currently vaping THC, while 999,000 were vaping CBD (2.9%), and 1.8% (620,000) were vaping SCs.

People who vape cannabis exhibit more mental health symptoms compared to those who use traditional combustion methods of dry herbs and flowers.

Synthetic cannabinoids are usually lab-synthesised to mimic the effects of naturally occurring cannabinoids and often bind more strongly to brain receptors, leading to more intense and unpredictable health consequences.

Doctoral student Chung said: “One of the most unexpected findings from our study was the continued rise in adolescent use of SCs.

"This trend is particularly alarming given that these substances are often accessed through unregulated, illicit markets, where there are no safety standards or quality controls.

"The growing popularity of SCs among youth raises serious concerns about potential health risks and highlights the urgent need for targeted public health interventions and regulatory oversight.

"These synthetic cannabinoid products could potentially be deadly, with many adolescents unknowingly vaping these harmful and synthetic substances.”

Co-investigator Dr. Gary Chan, also of The University of Queensland, said: "We still know very little about the long-term health effects of cannabis vaping, which makes it even more important to understand what's in your vape."

Chung added: “Experimentation with substance use among teenagers is often driven by peer influence, curiosity, and a desire for social acceptance.

"This age group may also be increasingly exposed to cannabis-related marketing on social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, as well as social media influencers and celebrities.

"I hope this study will raise awareness of youth cannabis vaping and divert public health resources into better psychoeducation on adolescent vaping, as well as tailored harm reduction interventions to protect our young generations.”