Adolescent Alcohol Use Can Lead to Vaping THC: Study

New research shows that while the majority of adolescents have never vaped cannabis, alcohol use among teens is a common precursor for the 14.5% who currently vape THC products.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a chemical found in cannabis that is responsible for the altered mood effects individuals experience when consuming marijuana.

In recent years, many users have shifted from traditional consumption methods, such as joints and pipes, to vapes and vape pens. Experts believe this transition has played a significant role in the rising popularity of THC products among adolescents and teens.

This pattern closely resembles the surge in nicotine vape pen use, which has largely replaced traditional cigarettes among teens. Both trends have raised concerns about the increased accessibility, appeal and potential health risks of vaping devices, as they are often marketed in ways that attract younger demographics.

However, according to a study published in the journal Science Direct, researchers from the University of Texas suggest that alcohol use is the most common precursor to vaping THC for adolescents across all races and ethnicities, while depression appears to be a major risk factor for cannabis vaping among Black and Hispanic youths.

Led by Dr. Dale S. Mantey, the research team analyzed data from the Texas Adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance (TATAMS) system, tracking 2,605 youths as they transitioned into adulthood.

Data used by the researchers was 37.7% Hispanic, 31.7% non-Hispanic white, 14.5% non-Hispanic Black and 16.1% other. The team compared vaping rates by race and ethnicity, as well as by sex, age, alcohol use, depression, anxiety and nicotine vaping rates.

The team’s findings indicate that 72.7% of the adolescents have never vaped cannabis, 12.7% have vaped cannabis in the past but no longer do and 14.5% currently vape cannabis.

Results from the study showed that alcohol use was a common factor for vaping THC products across all races and ethnicities. Depression was a major factor in cannabis-vaping only among Black and Hispanic teens.

“Future research should investigate the link between alcohol use, mental health, and cannabis vaping among young people,” the researchers concluded.

THC Vaping Concerns

Vaping THC has come under increased scrutiny in recent years due to various health and product-related concerns.

Recent lawsuits have alleged that some THC vape pens contain illegal levels of delta-9 THC. Unlike delta-8 or delta-10 THC, which are derived from hemp, delta-9 is the compound that gives marijuana its mood-altering properties. As a result, delta-9 is still a federally controlled Schedule I substance, which is illegal to possess at certain levels in many U.S. states.

In addition, e-cigarette vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) remains a serious respiratory condition that has been linked to e-cigarette products containing THC and vitamin E acetate, which is an additive often used to dilute THC oil. EVALI has resulted in more than 50 fatalities nationwide and left thousands of other individuals hospitalized with life-threatening lung injuries.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported earlier this month that there was still no definitive cause for EVALI vaping injuries.