In Canada, one-third of adolescents who report e-cigarette use also report using their vaping device to consume cannabis ( 5). Nicotine vaping remains more common than cannabis vaping yet, the overlap between those two substances is significant. While rates of tobacco use in North America have been decreasing steadily and rates of cannabis use among youth under age 18 have trended downwards since the turn of the century, nicotine and cannabis vaping have seen unprecedented increases in popularity among youth in the span of less than a decade ( 2–4). The risks of vaping for children and youth were forecasted in a 2015 statement from the Canadian Paediatric Society but the rapidity of uptake of this method of consumption was clearly underestimated ( 1). While research is still lacking on how best to support youth who may have already initiated cannabis vaping, concerted efforts among paediatric providers, public health experts, schools, communities, and families are urgently needed to limit the spread of cannabis vaping among Canadian youth. The low perceived riskiness of cannabis as a substance and of vaping as a mode of consumption may bring a false sense of security and be particularly appealing for youth who may be looking for a ‘healthier way’ to use substances. Though cannabis vaping is thought to generate fewer toxic emissions than cannabis smoking, it has been associated with several cases of acute lung injury and often involves high-potency forms of cannabis, exposing youth to several acute and long-term health risks. While nicotine remains the most common substance encountered in vaping devices, cannabis vaping is now reported by one-third of youth who vape. The rapid emergence of youth vaping has completely changed the landscape of adolescent substance use in Canada and has become a pressing public health issue of our time.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |