Abstract

This study examined nicotine and cannabis vaping among adolescents in treatment for substance use disorders. Participants were 363 adolescents aged 12-17 (66% male, mean age=15.5 [SD=1.3], 46% non-Hispanic white) seen for a specialty addiction intake evaluation between 2017 and 2019 at one of six medical offices of a large, integrated health care system in Northern California. Multivariable logistic regression models tested for associations of sociodemographics, cigarette smoking, and substance use disorders with vaping behaviors. A majority of adolescents reported ever (68%) or current vaping (60%) of nicotine and/or cannabis; current vaping was similar for nicotine (50%) and cannabis (51%); 40% reported current vaping of both. Current smokers (6% of the sample) had higher odds of ever vaping (aOR=3.95, 95%CI: 1.04-14.95). Black (versus non-Hispanic white) adolescents had lower odds of current nicotine vaping (aOR=0.08, 95%CI: 0.02-0.37) and current vaping of both nicotine and cannabis (aOR=0.12, 95%CI: 0.03-0.60). Having an alcohol use disorder was associated with current vaping (aOR=2.14, 95%CI: 1.06-4.33). Those who endorsed that most friends get drunk/high (aOR=1.87, 95%CI: 1.02-3.42) or that cannabis was their substance of choice (aOR=2.36, 95%CI: 1.16-4.81) had higher odds of current cannabis vaping. Higher neighborhood household income ($80,000-$120,000 and >$120,000 vs. <$80,000, aORs=2.05-9.48), never versus ever blunt use (aORs=2.47-8.68), and intakes in 2018 and 2019 versus 2017 (aORs=2.18-5.38) were associated with higher odds of all vaping outcomes. Vaping was common among adolescents in addiction treatment and varied with sociodemographics and substance-related factors. Research should assess how vaping impacts the development of substance use disorders and whether it interferes with addiction treatment.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108304

View details for PubMedID 34016296