Previous research investigating links between vaping and cigarette, cannabis, and other substance use has mostly been limited to 1-2 year follow-up periods and younger adolescents. In the current study, researchers examined longitudinal relationships between vaping and cigarette, cannabis, and other substance use among US adolescents and young adults.
To do so, they examined data from 12- 25-year-olds over an 8-year period from the nationally representative Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study. The data included six follow-up waves.
Ultimately, the researchers found that 12-17-year-olds who used e-cigarettes and tobacco products were 54 times more likely to start smoking, 8 times more likely to start using cannabis, and 3 times more likely to start using other drugs than their non-vaping counterparts. Meanwhile, those who vaped only were 22 more likely to start smoking, 7 times more likely to start cannabis use, and 3 times more likely to start using other drugs.
Similar associations were found among those aged 18-25 years old. Those who vaped and used tobacco products were 22 times more likely to start smoking, 9 times more likely to begin cannabis use, and 3 times more likely to start using other drugs. Those using e-cigarettes alone were 11 times more likely to start smoking, 6 times more likely to start using cannabis, and twice as likely to start other drug use.
“The really high odds of cigarette initiation regardless of what type of nicotine or tobacco products you’re using is important. I think it really highlights that to the extent that you can prevent initiation of vaping and other tobacco products, too, you’ll also go really far in preventing cigarette initiation over the long term,” said study author Rebecca Evans-Polce, research assistant professor at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor School of Nursing, in a press release.
Evans-Polce noted that the findings indicate a need to develop strategies that prevent young adults, as well as adolescents, from starting to vape. Prevention from vaping may result in fewer adolescents and young adults beginning cigarette, cannabis and other drug use.
Sources: University of Michigan, Drug and Alcohol Dependence
