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An alarming new study finds that teen drug vaping is more prevalent in the US than ever before. But what young people are vaping these days may be the biggest worry of all. Instead of nicotine, more teens today are vaping illicit drugs and marijuana. And many don’t even know what they’re getting.
A Parent’s Worst Nightmare
If parents thought cigarette smoking and nicotine vaping were the only problems they had to worry about for their teenagers, they might want to reconsider. Now more than ever, teens are getting everything from illicit drugs to high-potency marijuana in those ubiquitous vape cigarettes.
And what’s even more alarming is that some teens don’t even know what substances are in these inhalants. Between 2021 and 2023, researchers traced the vaping patterns of 11- to 18 year-old kids in the US. During this time, there was a considerable increase in drug vaping.
The growing trend of teenagers vaping drugs is worrying to parents and officials alike. Synthetic drugs for vaping are frequently purchased through illegal avenues which means their production and distribution are wholly unregulated.
That means that teens can unwittingly be exposing themselves both to highly dangerous drugs but also to contaminants that increase the risks.
Bodies, Hearts, and Minds At Risk
Young people are often blessed and cursed with the illusion of invulnerability. Many teenagers just don’t understand the harm associated with vaping these substances which can range from early-onset lung and heart disease to psychosis.
Others are experimenting and trying different products due to curiosity and peer pressure to fit in with certain circles.
Additionally, many teens are exposed to drug vaping content on popular websites and social media platforms. They can search apps like YouTube and TikTok to find influencers and videos promoting these activities.
To illustrate how bad the issue has become, research from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that over 2.5 million teens reported actively vaping THC in 2023. Almost one million admitted to vaping CBD. One of the scariest concerns is that many of these teens admitted they aren’t sure what substance they were vaping, but that didn’t seem to deter them. That uncertainty is a big problem when it comes to unregulated cannabis products.
What is the solution? For now, the hope is that this new information will promote awareness to the public and that more resources will become available that educate young people about vaping risks. Interventions are needed to protect teens from using these products that can cause dangerous, lasting consequences.
Addiction recovery programs specifically designed to address the unique needs of adolescents are available nationwide.
If a young person in your life is struggling with vaping addiction, there is hope. Use our database to find a treatment center near you or call
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