CADY | Communities for Alcohol and Drug-Free Youth



Vaping of Marijuana on the Rise Among Teens Contributed by: Deb Naro, Executive Director, CADYFindings from the 2019 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey, a national representative sample of 8th, 10th and 12th graders in hundreds of U.S. schools demonstrate the appeal of vaping to teens, as seen in the increased prevalence of marijuana use as well as nicotine vaping. The self-report survey is given annually to students who respond to questions about their drug use and attitudes.Past year vaping of marijuana, which has more than doubled in the past two years, was reported at 20.8% among 12th graders, with 10th graders not far behind at 19.4% and eighth graders at 7.0%. Past month marijuana vaping among 12th graders nearly doubled in a single year to 14% from 7.5%–the second largest one-year jump ever tracked for any substance in the history of the survey. For the first time, the survey measured daily marijuana vaping, which was reported at 3.5% among 12th graders, 3.0% among 10th graders, and 0.8% among eighth graders. Marijuana continues to be the most used illicit drug by adolescents. After remaining mostly stable for many years, daily use of marijuana increased significantly since 2018 among eighth and 10th graders. However, other drug use including the misuse of prescription drugs and the use of alcohol as well as tobacco cigarettes continues to decline. "We are heartened to see the continuing decline in the use of many drugs, particularly non-medical use of prescription opioids; however, teens are clearly attracted to vaping products, which are often concentrated amounts of drugs disguised as electronic gadgets," said NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow. "Their growing popularity threatens to undo years of progress protecting the health of adolescents in the U.S." According to the CDC, marijuana use may have long-lasting or permanent effects on the developing adolescent brain. When teens begin using marijuana, it can affect how the brain builds connections between the areas of thinking, memory and learning. Vaping marijuana has also been connected with lung illnesses. The CDC reports the outbreak of e-cigarette lung illness has been associated with vitamin E acetate, an additive in some THC-containing e-cigarettes, or vaping products. As of December 27, 2019 a total of 2,261 cases have been reported from all 50 states with 55 deaths confirmed. How do I know if my child is vaping marijuana? Vaping can be difficult to detect as there is no smoke, minimal odor (although you may catch a whiff) and the vapor produced dissipates rapidly. However, vaping marijuana can result in bloodshot eyes, dry mouth and thirst, increased appetite and shifts in behavior and mood. Sometimes, there is a noticeable change in friends and a decrease in activities that were once enjoyed. You may also find vaping paraphernalia such as devices that look like flash drives and pods or cartridges that contain THC oil. There’s a lot of high-tech-looking equipment that can accompany vaping, so if you’re not sure, it might be time to talk to your child about what you found.For more tips on how to talk to your child about vaping marijuana or nicotine products, visit our website at . If you, or someone you know, struggles with substance misuse or addiction, please call 2-1-1 or the Doorway at LRGHealthcare (603-934-8905) for help. ................
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