Cannabis Vaping Linked to Suicide Attempts in Hospitalized Adolescents
Among 470 adolescents in psychiatric inpatient care, those who vaped cannabis as their primary method had 2.4 times higher odds of a recent suicide attempt, even after controlling for other substance use.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Vaping as the most frequent cannabis method was associated with 2.38 times higher odds of past 30-day suicide attempt (p=0.002) and greater suicidal ideation. The suicide attempt association remained significant after controlling for depressive symptoms, impulse control, psychosocial impairment, and other substance use.
Key Numbers
470 adolescents. 26.8% had past 30-day suicide attempts. 44.3% ever used cannabis. 31.5% used cannabis in past 30 days. 30.8% of cannabis users primarily vaped. Vaping: AOR=2.38 for suicide attempts (p=0.002).
How They Did This
Chart review of 470 adolescents (ages 11-18, 64% female) admitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital between 2021-2023. Assessment battery measured cannabis use methods, psychiatric symptoms, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Logistic regression with adjustment for confounders.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis vaping is rapidly increasing among adolescents, and this study suggests it may be a specific risk marker for suicidality in psychiatrically vulnerable youth, beyond what is explained by general cannabis use or other substance use.
The Bigger Picture
The specificity to vaping (rather than all cannabis use methods) raises questions about whether the delivery method matters. Vaping delivers cannabis more rapidly and potentially at higher potency, which could amplify acute psychiatric effects in vulnerable youth.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine causation. Inpatient psychiatric sample is not representative of all adolescents. Vaping cannabis users may differ from other cannabis users in unmeasured ways. Self-reported cannabis use methods.
Questions This Raises
- ?Is the vaping-suicide link driven by higher THC exposure from vaping, or do youth who choose vaping have other risk factors?
- ?Would the association hold in community samples?
- ?Could vaping-specific prevention messaging reduce risk?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 2.4x higher odds of suicide attempt with cannabis vaping
- Evidence Grade:
- Reasonable sample in a high-risk population with appropriate statistical controls, but cross-sectional design and inpatient-only sample limit conclusions.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study using 2021-2023 data
- Original Title:
- Cannabis Vaping Is Associated With Past 30-Day Suicide Attempts and Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents in a Psychiatric Inpatient Setting.
- Published In:
- JAACAP open, 2(4), 263-273 (2024)
- Authors:
- Thomas, Sarah A(2), Thompson, Elizabeth C, Maron, Micaela M, Meisel, Samuel N, Spirito, Anthony, Wolff, Jennifer C
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05760
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is cannabis vaping linked to teen suicide?
In this study of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents, those who primarily vaped cannabis had 2.4 times higher odds of a recent suicide attempt compared to other cannabis use methods. The study cannot prove causation.
Why might vaping cannabis be riskier than smoking it?
Vaping can deliver THC more rapidly and at higher concentrations. In this vulnerable adolescent population, the combination of rapid delivery and high psychiatric risk may amplify acute effects on suicidality.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05760APA
Thomas, Sarah A; Thompson, Elizabeth C; Maron, Micaela M; Meisel, Samuel N; Spirito, Anthony; Wolff, Jennifer C. (2024). Cannabis Vaping Is Associated With Past 30-Day Suicide Attempts and Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents in a Psychiatric Inpatient Setting.. JAACAP open, 2(4), 263-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaacop.2024.03.003
MLA
Thomas, Sarah A, et al. "Cannabis Vaping Is Associated With Past 30-Day Suicide Attempts and Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents in a Psychiatric Inpatient Setting.." JAACAP open, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaacop.2024.03.003
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis Vaping Is Associated With Past 30-Day Suicide Attem..." RTHC-05760. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/thomas-2024-cannabis-vaping-is-associated
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.