Are vaping a gateway to weed? It depends, says a new study

E-cigarettes are a huge hit, especially among young adults and teenagers. These devices have also blurred the lines between tobacco and cannabis. A new study shows a link between e-cigarette use and cannabis, particularly when it comes to mental health.

The study, published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, was conducted by researchers from the state of Georgia who wanted to better understand the connection between electronic devices and cannabis use. The study was based on self-reported data from a longitudinal study of tobacco and its effects on the health of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17.

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The study included a group of teenagers aged 12 and older who had never used cannabis in the past. After a few years, the researchers found that cannabis use was more common among adolescents if they were already using e-cigarettes. Cannabis use was even more common among teenagers who reported severe mental health problems.

Mental illness made a difference whether it was external or internal. Externalized mental health problems include oppositional, impulsive, or risk-taking behavior, while internalized refers to conditions such as anxiety and depression. Those with externalizing mental health determinants were more likely to be interested in cannabis, which is not surprising. What surprised the researchers was the “nuance based on the type of mental health problems that e-cigarette users face” and how this affected their cannabis use.

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This research is helpful in understanding why teens turn to cannabis and how their mental health affects those choices. For example, if a teenager is suffering from an internal mental disorder, they could use cannabis alone to calm themselves. When a teenager is confronted with an external mental disorder, they can participate in order to behave, conform to their peers, etc.

While it is clear that e-cigarettes make cannabis use easier and more accessible, it is important to understand the motive behind this so that professionals and parents can address these symptoms in their teenage years, recognize them and address them as quickly as possible.