Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is common on college campuses, as evident by a 2018 survey that found one in five college students use e-cigarettes or vape products. Cannabis vape products are also gaining popularity which could put young adults who use e-cigarettes and vape products at a higher risk of using cannabis. A variety of adverse health events have been linked to e-cigarette and cannabis use which makes identifying risk factors for use a priority. This study examines risk factors for concurrent cannabis/THC vaping and e-cigarette use among young adults transitioning from high school to college.
The study’s sample consisted of 529 incoming undergraduate students at a public university in the southeastern United States who reported e-cigarette use. Participants were asked to report gender, race/ethnicity, and fraternity/sorority membership. Students were also asked to indicate use of conventional cigarettes or alcohol and past 3 month use of e-cigarettes, JUULs, or any other cannabis/THC containing vape product. Lastly, students described overall stress levels during the past 3 months. Data was analyzed using logistic regression to assess for predictors of cannabis/THC vaping.
Results of the data analysis showed 31% of students reported conventional cigarette use, 86% reported alcohol use, and 26% reported cannabis/THC vape product use. Among those that reported vaping cannabis/THC, 78% said they sometimes use cannabis/THC when they vape, 10% said they do so half the time, 11% said they do so most of the time, and 1% said they do so all of the time. Vaping cannabis/THC was significantly correlated with fraternity/sorority status, alcohol use, level of stress, number of friends who currently use cannabis, and whether any family members used cannabis.
Takeaway: Fraternity/sorority status, alcohol use, level of stress, and use of cannabis by family/friends may provide predictive value when assessing use of cannabis/THC vape products in college students who use e-cigarettes.