Depressive symptoms predicted cannabis vaping initiation in college-age young adults | Research

The takeaway

Among over 3,000 cannabis-vaping-naive young adults, those with elevated depressive symptoms were significantly more likely to start vaping cannabis over a four-year period, with initiation rates doubling from 2017 to 2019.

College health programs, young adults considering cannabis vaping, mental health providers working with young adults

25% initiated cannabis vaping over 4 years

What the researchers found

Twenty-five percent of participants initiated cannabis vaping during the four-year study. Elevated depressive symptoms were significantly associated with increased risk of cannabis vaping initiation in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Initiation rates were stable from 2015-2017 but doubled from 2017-2019.

Why it matters

Cannabis vaping is the fastest-growing form of cannabis use among young adults, and understanding who starts vaping can help target prevention. The link to depression suggests mental health support could be a prevention strategy.

The numbers in context

3,085 participants from 24 Texas colleges. 25% initiated cannabis vaping over 4 years. Initiation rates doubled between 2017-2019. Mean age 20.6 years.

How the study worked

Survival analysis of 3,085 cannabis-vaping-naive young adults (ages 18-25) from 24 Texas colleges, surveyed across six waves from fall 2015 to spring 2019. Covariates included demographics, past 30-day substance use, and peer nicotine vaping.

What this study cannot tell us

Texas colleges may not represent national trends. Self-reported depressive symptoms, not clinical diagnoses. Cannot determine whether depression causes vaping initiation or whether shared risk factors drive both. Ended before COVID-19.

How to read the evidence

Multi-wave longitudinal design with survival analysis strengthens causal inference, but self-reported measures and single-state sample limit generalizability.

When this study was published

2024 study analyzing Texas college data from 2015-2019

The bigger picture

The doubling of initiation rates from 2017-2019 coincides with the rapid expansion of vaping products generally. That depression predicts initiation suggests some young adults may be self-medicating mood symptoms, which could lead to problematic use patterns.

Questions still open

Does treating depression reduce the likelihood of cannabis vaping initiation? Have initiation rates continued rising after 2019? Does cannabis vaping worsen or improve depressive symptoms over time?

Common questions

Does depression cause people to start vaping cannabis?

This study found depression predicted initiation, but cannot prove it causes it. People with depressive symptoms may be drawn to cannabis vaping as self-medication, or shared factors like stress may drive both.

How quickly did cannabis vaping grow?

Initiation rates were stable from 2015-2017 but doubled from 2017-2019, mirroring the rapid expansion of vaping products during that period.

Read the original research

Depressive symptoms predict cannabis vaping initiation among young adults.

Drug and alcohol dependence, 262, 111397

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Arora, Srishty; Marti, C Nathan; North, Caroline; Thomas, Jacob E; Harrell, Melissa B; Pasch, Keryn E; Wilkinson, Anna V; Loukas, Alexandra. (2024). Depressive symptoms predict cannabis vaping initiation among young adults.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 262, 111397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111397