Adolescent E-cigarette use trajectories and subsequent alcohol and marijuana use

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Substance Use Research
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is rising among adolescents.
• Evidence suggests e-cigarette use may lead to other substance use.
• The relationship between e-cigarette use patterns and other substance initiation is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine patterns of adolescent e-cigarette use over time.
• To determine if different e-cigarette use trajectories predict alcohol and marijuana use.
• To investigate concurrent and prospective associations between e-cigarette and other substance use.

Main Methods:

• Latent class growth analysis modeled developmental trajectories of e-cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use in 801 adolescents (13-15 years old at baseline).
• Data collected via five online surveys over two years.
• Logistic regression analyzed associations between e-cigarette use patterns and other substance use trajectories.

Main Results:

• Three e-cigarette use trajectories were identified: high and increasing, low and increasing, and never used.
• Adolescents in both high and low increasing e-cigarette use groups were more likely to report alcohol intoxication and increasing marijuana use compared to non-users.
• Both high and low levels of e-cigarette use were associated with increased alcohol and marijuana consumption over time.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent e-cigarette use, regardless of level, is linked to increased alcohol and marijuana use.
• Findings underscore the importance of early intervention and prevention strategies for adolescent e-cigarette use.
• Addressing e-cigarette use is critical for preventing broader substance use initiation in youth.