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Toronto Sun
06-07-2025
- Health
- Toronto Sun
Scientists warn of health risks for youth who vape cannabis products
A new study is ringing alarm bells over health risks facing American youth who vape cannabis products. Photo by Aleksandr Yu / iStock / Getty Images It appears increasing numbers of American teens are turning to vaping cannabis products. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account But the harms associated with inhaling THC, CBD and synthetic cannabinoids (SC) are more dangerous for adolescent health, according to a U.S. study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine . Researchers looked at cannabis vaping trends from the National Youth Tobacco Survey between 2021 and 2023, which collected data from about 70,000 U.S. middle and high school students between 11 and 18 years of age. They found an alarming trend: Vaping substances other than nicotine was becoming more popular among young people. Read More 'We found a significant increase in adolescent vaping of THC, CBD and SCs from 2021 to 2023,' Jack Chung, a lead investigator at the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research at the University of Queensland, told Science Daily . Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'THC vaping peaked in 2022 while the use of SCs continued to increase.' Chung said youth were increasingly uncertain about the substances they were vaping, noting the numbers tripled when they answered 'don't know' if asked about vaping SCs. In 2023, researchers estimated that more than 2.5 million youths were vaping THC, about 1 million inhaled CBD products and about 620,000 used synthetic cannabinoids. The study found that youth who vaped cannabis experienced more mental-health symptoms than those who smoked dry herbs and flowers. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Scientists say synthetic cannabinoids — which mimic the effects of naturally occurring cannabinoids — can bind more strongly to brain receptors. That could lead to more unpredictable health effects. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'One of the most unexpected findings from our study was the continued rise in adolescent use of SCs,' Chung said. '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.' He said the increased popularity of these products raises serious concerns about the possible risks to adolescent health and suggested better public health education and awareness of potential health impacts. 'These synthetic cannabinoids products could potentially be deadly with many adolescents unknowingly vaping these harmful and synthetic substances.' Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs Sunshine Girls World World
Scoop
01-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Peer Influence Drives Youth Vaping Epidemic
Young people with friends who vape are 15 times more likely to use e-cigarettes, and more adolescents are turning to illicit cannabis products, University of Queensland research has found. In two separate UQ-led studies, researchers have uncovered vaping trends, including a significant increase in the number of young people who don't know what they're inhaling. In one study, PhD candidate Jack Chung from UQ's National Centre For Youth Substance Use Research examined the types of cannabis compounds that youth aged 11-18 years old were vaping between 2021 and 2023. 'We analysed how many teens were vaping 2 types of cannabis compounds, the first of which is commonly used for its psychoactive 'high' effects, and the 2nd is usually used for medicinal purposes,' Mr Chung said. 'We also studied the use of lab-made synthetic cannabinoids which can be more potent and deadly. 'We saw an increase in all products between 2021 and 2023, but it was concerning to see a rise in synthetic cannabinoids, where vaping doubled in young people aged between 11-15 years. 'Synthetic cannabinoids are particularly dangerous as they can lead to unpredictable health consequences and even death. 'It was also worrying to see more adolescents were unsure about the substances they were vaping – 1.8 per cent of teens in 2021 weren't sure if they had vaped synthetic cannabinoids, increasing to 4.7 per cent in 2023.' Mr Chung's study analysed data from 70,773 middle and high school students in the United States, which was captured in the country's National Youth Tobacco Surveys. In a separate UQ-led vaping study, PhD candidate Giang Vu found peer influences were a major factor in vaping trends, while disapproval of e-cigarettes from people important to teens – such as parents – reduced the likelihood of a teen vaping by about 70 per cent. 'We analysed data from 20,800 American youth between 2015 and 2021 and found while the proportion with friends who smoked declined, having friends who vaped remained concerningly common,' Ms Vu said. 'In 2015, 31.6 per cent of young people had friends who vaped, and while this decreased to 22.3 per cent by 2021, this figure is still high. 'The outbreak of lung disease associated with vaping, and COVID-19 related disruptions to social networks and access most likely contributed to this decline.' Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, who collaborated on both studies, said social media played a big part in vaping rates among young people. 'In many videos, vaping is portrayed as trendy and a healthier lifestyle choice when compared to cigarette smoking, but this is dangerous messaging,' Dr Chan said. 'We need more regulation on social media, along with targeted policies and campaigns to decrease vaping rates. 'Further research is also needed to help us understand the evolving trends of cannabis vaping and the physical and mental health impacts on youth.' The first paper has been published in American Journal of Preventative Medicine. The second paper has been published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Key findings Adolescent cannabis vaping trends: In 2023, it was estimated: 7.4 per cent of US adolescents were vaping a cannabinoid known as THC (which is extracted from the cannabis plant and produces a psychoactive high) 2.9 per cent were vaping cannabidiol known as CBD (also extracted from a cannabis plant and is more often used for medicinal purposes) 1.8 per cent were vaping synthetic cannabinoids (a dangerous lab-made drug that mimics the effects of cannabis) Vaping of all 3 products increased between 2021 and 2023 in teenagers aged 11-18 years old. Vaping rates were higher among females than males. The number of 11-13-year-olds vaping THC and synthetic cannabinoids doubled between 2021 and 2023. Consistent increase in the number of teens who weren't sure what product they had inhaled. Trends in social norms towards cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use: Teens who had friends who vaped were 15 times more likely to use e-cigarettes themselves. Between 2015 and 2021, the probability of having friends who smoked cigarettes decreased from 26.1 per cent to 7.9 per cent. Meanwhile, the probability of having friends who vaped decreased from 31.6 per cent to 22.3 per cent. Between 2015 and 2020, perceived public disapproval increased for both cigarettes (73.3 per cent to 84.2 per cent) and vaping (55.4 per cent to 77.5 per cent). Disapproval of e-cigarettes from people important to teens reduced the likelihood of a teen vaping by about 70 per cent.
