Some teens do not know if they have vaped CBD

Key takeaways:

• In 2022, nearly 800,000 middle and high school students reported vaping CBD in the past month.
• One researcher said PCPs should advise teens to not use substances and educate them about the harms of vaping CBD.

In the United States, the prevalence of adolescents vaping CBD has risen in recent years, highlighting the need for educating youth about the potential harms, according to the results of research published in JAMA Network Open.

Hongying (Daisy) Dai, PhD, MS, a professor and Associate Dean of Research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health, told Healio that, despite CBD’s reputation, “there are various safety concerns associated with its use, including potential harm to the liver and lungs and possible damage to the male reproductive system.”

“Vaping CBD among adolescents is particularly a concern given that CBD, nicotine, marijuana and other compounds can be used interchangeably in some vaping devices,” Dai said. “Furthermore, research has indicated that vaping CBD may cause more severe lung damage than vaping nicotine.”

Considering the popularity of vaping cannabis among adolescents in the U.S., Dai and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the factors associated with and prevalence of adolescents vaping CBD.

Of the 28,291 participants with a mean age of 14.5 years, 2,448 were current e-cigarette users, meaning that they vaped tobacco. In that group, 21.3% (95% CI, 18.4-24.1) reported vaping CBD in the past month and 6.3% (95% CI, 4.7-7.8) said they did not know if they had done so.

Among the more than 25,000 participants who were not e-cigarette users, the rates were lower: 1.2% (95% CI, 1-1.5) reported currently vaping CBD and 2.3% (95% CI, 2.1-2.6) reported that they did not know if they had done so.

“It raises concern that a notable proportion of adolescents are uncertain about whether they have engaged in vaping CBD or not,” Dai said. “This might be due to the lack of consistent quality assurance standards and the mislabeling of CBD products in the market. As a result, adolescents might misidentify them as just flavorings or other vaping products.”

Dai said in 2022, prevalence of youth vaping CBD among U.S. adolescents “was high, with nearly 800,000 U.S. middle and high school students reporting past-month vaping CBD.” She also noted that various groups were more likely to report vaping CBD compared with their counterparts:

• gay or lesbian adolescents (adjusted OR = 2.9; 95% CI, 1.6-5.4);
• bisexual adolescents (aOR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.8-4);
• high school students (aOR = 4.2; 95% CI, 2.8-6.1); and
• Hispanic e-cigarette users (aOR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3-2.8).

“Vaping CBD is not safe for adolescents. With existing safety concerns, clinicians and parents should educate the youth about the potential harms associated with vaping CBD and advise them not to use any substances,” Dai said.