According to a recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, vaping marijuana has become increasingly popular among youth weed users and flavored cannabis vapes are their preferred product.
"These products are gaining traction among youth. Since the pandemic onset in 2020, youth appear to be turning towards these products while reducing their use of all other drugs," said lead researcher Richard Miech, the principal investigator of the "Monitoring the Future" project at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. The study leaned on data from that project, an annual survey of American 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students, with more than 54,000 high schoolers surveyed between 2021-2024.
Results show teenage weed users have started to prefer vaped cannabis to other forms like smoking or edibles.
From 2021 to 2024, vaping cannabis increased
48% to 57% among 8th graders who use weed
60% to 66% among 10th graders
60% to 66% among 10th graders
58% to 67% among 12th graders
And among those who vape weed, flavored vapes have become increasingly popular with use rising from
47% to 63% among 8th graders
41% to 53% among 10th graders
36% to 50% among 12th graders
41% to 53% among 10th graders
36% to 50% among 12th graders
Another issue is that the flavored vapes are so easily accessible - teens are able to get them from their social circles, older siblings, convenience stores and gas stations, many of which are not consistently checking their store shelves.
"Flavored vaping solutions offer a discreet mode of cannabis use, with flavors that enhance their appeal," said Miech. "The study results suggest that a growing proportion of youth find the newly-available flavors - especially fruit flavors - more attractive than the standard cannabis taste." Other reasons he stated for the surge, "Vaping does not produce the distinctive odor that comes from smoking cannabis, and vaping devices can be quickly concealed if an authority figure appears unexpectedly."
Miech expressed concern that flavored weed vapes may open the doorway to increased use among teens with potentially bad consequences down the road. "Should cannabis use become more popular among youth, then a greater number will end up with an addiction that can impair their social and academic life. Many people may not realize that more adolescents meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder than for alcohol use disorder, with 5% affected by cannabis, compared to 3% for alcohol.
The FDA has recently made some suggestions to really crack down on this issue and the education of our youth is key. Educating teens is so important because youth under the age of 25 are undergoing critical brain growth, and they are particularly susceptible to becoming addicted. THC has been associated scientifically with so many adverse behavioral issues.
PARENTS - continue talking with your children and teens about the potential harms of marijuana use in any form.
To read more about Trends in U.S. Adolescent Use of Vaping and Flavored Solutions for Marijuana Consumption 2021-2024, visit:
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