In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open , researchers investigate the association between concurrent use of tobacco and cannabis with mental health problems among teenagers in the United States.
Study: Concurrent Use of Tobacco and Cannabis and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in US Youths. Image Credit: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com
Study: Concurrent Use of Tobacco and Cannabis and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in US Youths. Image Credit: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com Smoking habits in young Americans
Tobacco and cannabis use is prevalent among teenagers in the United States, with 7.3% and 6.4% reporting tobacco and cannabis use in the past 30 days, respectively, according to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Concurrent use, which was reported by 5.4% of individuals, exceeds exclusive use of either substance; however, these rates do not consider the use of newer products like electronic cigarettes and vaporized cannabis.
With the rising use of these products, updated data and further research are essential to understand the impact of concurrent use on youth mental health and inform public health efforts. About the study
The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study is a nationally representative and longitudinal cohort study of U.S. adults and youths 12 years and older. Baseline data were collected from January 2013 to December 2014.
The PATH study included a total of 45,971 participants and an additional 7,207 ‘shadow youths’ between nine and 11 years of age. At wave four, a probability sample of 14,098 participants was added, in addition to wave six data from March to November 2021, which included 5,652 youths between 14 and 17 years of age.
Mental health problems were assessed using a modified version of the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs-Short Screener (GAIN-SS), which measures internalizing issues like anxiety and depression as well as externalizing behaviors such as impulsivity and aggression.
Tobacco and cannabis use patterns were categorized into non-use, tobacco-only, cannabis-only, and concurrent use. Covariates included age, sex, race, parental education, and other substance use.Ordinal logistic regressions examined associations between substance use patterns and mental health outcomes, adjusting for covariates. Study findings Among […]
Teenagers using both tobacco and cannabis face higher mental health risks
