SAFE GC Coalition: Concerns Over Youth Marijuana Use and Vaping

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the results of its annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which shows how people living in America reported about their experience with mental health conditions, substance use, mental health and pursuit of treatment in 2023. The report includes selected estimates by race, ethnicity, and age group. The 2023 sample size was 67,679 and used varied collection methods in gathering data from respondents who are noninstitutionalized and age 12 or older.

The 2023 NSDUH questionnaire included questions to assess the different ways that people use marijuana. Respondents who reported using marijuana in the past month or past year were asked to report ways they used marijuana in these time periods, such as smoking, vaping, and eating. The 2023 NSDUH questionnaire also included questions about the use of cannabidiol (CBD) or hemp products and the use of marijuana or cannabis products that were recommended by a doctor or other health professional (i.e., medical marijuana use).

By the end of 2023, more than half of the U.S. population lived in states that had legalized marijuana use for adults aged 21 or older. In 2023,

• 15.4 percent of people aged 12 or older (or 43.6 million people) used marijuana in the past month, including 5.6 percent (or 15.8 million people) who vaped marijuana in that period.
• The percentage of people who used marijuana in the past month was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (25.2 percent or 8.6 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (15.0 percent or 33.5 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (6.0 percent or 1.6 million people).
• The percentage of people who vaped marijuana in the past month was also highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (12.6 percent or 4.3 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (4.7 percent or 10.5 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (3.7 percent or 959,000 people).
• About 1 in 3 current marijuana users aged 12 or older in 2023 (36.2 percent) vaped marijuana in the past month
• 15.4 percent of people aged 12 or older (or 43.6 million people) used marijuana in the past month, including 5.6 percent (or 15.8 million people) who vaped marijuana T
• The percentage of people who used marijuana in the past month was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (25.2 percent or 8.6 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (15.0 percent or 33.5 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (6.0 percent or 1.6 million people).

The consumption of high-potency forms of marijuana through vaping has been linked to acute adverse effects such as paranoia, psychosis, and cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. Beyond these acute effects, vaping marijuana has also been connected to severe lung injuries as Specifically, several hundreds of cases of EVALI (vaping-associated lung injuries) have been reported in the USA.

Marijuana vaping has been associated with an increased risk of developing acute adverse effects such as paranoia, psychosis, and cannabis hyperemesis syndrome when using high-potency concentrates. These effects can be distressing and potentially harmful, particularly for users who are not accustomed to the potent effects of concentrated cannabis. More than three-quarters of individuals diagnosed with EVALI reported vaping THC products, many of which were purchased from the black market. This suggests that the safety and quality of the product can significantly influence the risk of lung injury.

Marijuana use has become extremely prevalent in society, which necessitates researchers stay informed and calls for doctor-patient discussion regarding the risks of use. Concomitant drug use should also be discussed as research demonstrates marijuana use is associated with increased tobacco and alcohol use. The emerging issue of unregulated marijuana products with high potency and unknown consequences should not be ignored.

SAFE is the only alcohol and substance use prevention agency in Glen Cove whose mission is to eliminate alcohol and substance use in Glen Cove. Its Coalition is concerned about cannabis use- especially in youth as their brains are developing. The Coalition is conducting a prevention awareness campaign entitled “Keeping Glen Cove SAFE; Underage Marijuana Use,” to educate and update the community regarding marijuana use and its negative consequences. To learn more about the SAFE Glen Cove Coalition please follow us on www.facebook.com/safeglencovecoalition or visit SAFE’s website to learn more about Cannabis/Marijuana use at www.safeglencove.org.