Increasing legalization of cannabis around the world has arisen alongside changing perceptions around cannabis use. Research indicates that over the last decade, adolescents' perception of cannabis as a harmful substance has decreased. Understanding more about risk factors that predispose to harmful cannabis use is crucial for prevention.
In the current study, researchers collected data from 8, 521 German adolescents with an average age of 14 years old. Just under 6% of participants reported current cannabis use, while 17% reported current use of cigarettes and/ or e-cigarettes.
After analyzing the data, the researchers found a significant link between current use of cigarettes or e-cigarettes and cannabis use. In particular, they found that those using e-cigarettes were 42.8% more likely to use cannabis than never-users. Meanwhile, those using cigarettes were 185.9 times more likely to use the substance and those using both: 468.7 times more likely.
The researchers further found that dual users perceived the lowest risk in cannabis use, followed by those smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Participants who had not smoked cigarettes or e-cigarettes before perceived cannabis as most harmful and had the lowest intention to use the substance.
"Although the main users of cannabis are often shown to be older adolescents and young adults, the present data shows that combustible cigarette, e-cigarette and cannabis use are already prevalent at younger adolescence and are highly correlated. Prevention programs should therefore be established at an early stage in school," wrote the researchers in their study.
Sources: News-Medical.net, Journal of Cannabis Research