Teen vaping continues to grow and could have these long-lasting effects

More teenagers are vaping these days than ever before. And now, a new study shows that this worrying trend could lead to a myriad of health problems in the long run.

The study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that the vaping rate among teenagers doubled between 2013 and 2020. Researchers analyzed data from over 200,000 adolescents in Canada and the United States. Teenagers in their senior year of high school were more likely to vape than younger teens, preferring to smoke cannabis flowers – something of interest to researchers as it could potentially put teenagers at greater risk over the years.

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Cannabis extracts, such as those found in vapes, dabs, and more, contain a higher amount of THC per dose. Study author Carmen Lim told CNN in an email: “Not only is this linked to poorer cognitive development in adolescents, it could also increase the risk of addiction, use of other substances and many other health, social and behavioral problems later in life raise.”

RELATED: Is Vaping Cannabis Really Worse For Teenagers’ Lungs Than Vaping Tobacco?

We have spoken many times about the risks of cannabis abuse among adolescents, a concern that plagues marijuana advocates and opponents. The effects of marijuana on adolescent brains differ from those in adults, correlating with damage to learning, memory, problem-solving skills, and their overall attention span.

Aside from all of this information gathered over the years, there are a number of risks associated with vaping that make it more dangerous than smoking THC or cigarettes. It has been linked to cases of EVALI, a lung disease that occurs in people who vape regularly, especially those who vape cannabis regularly.

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The cannabis landscape is hard to see through these days, especially as the drug is going through a period of overhaul and researchers and health care workers are stressing many of its medicinal effects. When it comes to teenagers, however, the data is clear; Cannabis affects them differently and the substance should be viewed like any other hazardous substance.