The American Heart Association has released a new study that shows there could be a connection between teens and young adults who vape nicotine and THC being diagnosed with depression and anxiety symptoms.
The study examined 2,505 teens and young adults aged 13 to 24, asking about their vaping usage and mental health. The results found that of those who reported vaping only THC, 159 respondents, 70% reported having “worries, flashbacks, panic attacks, and situational anxieties” within the previous week. Of those who said they don’t vape, 562 respondents, only 40% experienced the same symptoms.
The results from the study looked at those who only vape THC, those who only vape nicotine, those who vape both, and those who don’t vape at all.
Among the group that just reported vaping nicotine, 370 respondents, and those who partake in both, 830 respondents, 60% said they had experienced feelings of anxiety.
The 1,921 people who responded to having vaped nicotine, THC, or both, said they had done so within 30 days of participating in the study, so the frequency with which they partake in the substances is unclear. Still, the researchers behind the study fear that younger generations are being targeted.
“Younger people have long been vulnerable to tobacco use, may experience greater harm from nicotine and other drugs, and may be targeted by tobacco advertisers and marketers,” study author Dr. Joy Hart said in a statement.
One fear that Hart and other researchers have is that information on the effects of vapes and other forms of e-cigarettes remains murky while popularity skyrockets.
“E-cigarette devices are still relatively new compared to other tobacco products, such as combustible cigarettes and pipes, so more research is needed to try to better understand the popularity of e-cigarettes, including reasons for vaping and the associated health risks among youth,” Hart said.
As for the findings, more than half of all vapers, no matter the substance, said they experienced feelings of depression and had experienced suicidal thoughts within the past year.
As for those who don’t vape, only a quarter reported feeling depressed, and a third had struggled with suicidal thoughts.
One shocking anecdote discovered in the study was that a number of respondents said they started vaping to try and feel less depressed.
Dr. Loren Wold served as the writing committee lead for the study, sharing that there is a significant correlation between mental health and vaping.
“This study showed the striking significance of issues with mental health in users of both nicotine vapes, as well as THC vapes, and as new products continue to come on the market, I think that this is something that we will continue to see,” Wold said.
The study comes on the heels of another marijuana-focused report presented at the American College of Cardiology that found using cannabis daily can increase the potential for a person to develop coronary artery disease, or CAD.
The data showed that those using cannabis daily were 34% more likely to be diagnosed with CAD than those who didn’t use the drug.
While more states continue to legalize marijuana for recreational use, the number of people using the substance continues to grow. Hart shared that while researchers knew THC was a common substance vaped by young adults, they were surprised to find the number of users who also used nicotine products.
“Although we knew that THC was commonly vaped, we were surprised to have so many dual vapers — more than double the nicotine-only vapers,” Hart said. “Dual use may either compound the addictive nature of vaping or attract people who are more prone to addiction, as well as have an impact on symptoms of depression.”
As a way to combat this, Hart shared that it is crucial for young adults to be taught proper coping mechanisms to help prevent addiction before it starts.
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