A Longitudinal Study of E-Cigarette, Cigarette, and Marijuana Use Sequence in Youth. (6th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Westling, Erika; Rusby, Julie C.; Crowley, Ryann; Light, John M.
• Is Part Of: Tobacco use insights. Volume 15(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05-06
• Subjects: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems -- Vaping -- Marijuana Use -- Cigarette Smoking -- Adolescent -- Tobacco -- Cannabis; Nicotine -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Tobacco -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Tobacco use -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Tobacco use -- Periodicals; Tobacco Use; Tobacco Use Disorder -- therapy; Nicotine addiction -- Treatment; Nicotine -- Physiological effect; Tobacco -- Physiological effect; Tobacco use; Tobacco use -- Health aspects; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.865
• DOI: 10.1177/1179173X221101813
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1179-173X

Abstract

Objective: There is evidence linking youth use of electronic (e-) cigarettes to subsequent cigarette and marijuana use, raising public health concerns. We examined the sequence of use of e-cigarettes, conventional cigarettes, and marijuana in a longitudinal sample of adolescents, to determine if use of e-cigarettes often preceded use of other substances. Methods: We collected self-reports from 1123 Oregon adolescents (52% female; 37% Hispanic) longitudinally from 8 th to 11 th grade (8 total surveys) regarding their lifetime (ever use) and current use (last 30 days) of e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and marijuana. If applicable, students also reported the delivery method of their current marijuana use. Results: Almost 10% of adolescents reported using e-cigarettes prior to use of cigarettes or marijuana, and the majority of these youth initiated use of marijuana, cigarettes, or both by 11 th grade. More youth transitioned from e-cigarette use to marijuana use then from e-cigarettes to use of conventional cigarettes. Participants who were co-using e-cigarettes and marijuana in 11 th grade had an increased likelihood of consuming marijuana via vaping, dabbing, and edibles, compared to those who were only using marijuana. Discussion: 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.