Keypoint: Among US adolescents surveyed, the prevalence of self-reported delta 8-THC use was 11.4% and the prevalence of self-reported marijuana use was 30.4%
Marijuana and delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use is significant among adolescents in the United States, with higher THC usage in states without delta 8-THC regulations or current marijuana legalization, according to study findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Investigators sought to estimate self-reported prevalence of marijuana and delta 8-THC use among adolescents in the US in the past year along with associated sociodemographic and policy factors.
The investigators conducted a nationally representative cross-sectional analysis from February to June 2023, using a Monitoring the Future Study (MTF) in-school survey in which a third of the 12th grade respondents were randomly asked about delta 8-THC use. Study respondents included 2186 randomly selected 12th grade students in 27 US states. Self-reported marijuana or delta 8-THC use in the past year (any vs no use, plus the number of occasions substances were used) was the primary endpoint.
In the overall analytic sample, respondents had a mean age of 17.7 years; 48.9% were women, 45.8% men, and 5.3% reported other sex or preference or declined to report; and 46.1% were White, 11.1% Black, 23.5% Hispanic, 14.2% multiracial, and 4.0% Asian. Geographically, 16.9% lived in the Northeast US census regions, 22.0% in the Midwest, 24.5% in the West, and 36.7% in the South US census regions. Overall, 34.8% lived in states with delta 8-THC regulations and 44.2% lived in states with adult-use marijuana legalization. More than half (51.7%) of respondents had a parent with a college degree.
The investigators found prevalence of self-reported delta 8-THC use in the past year was 11.4% (95% CI, 8.6%-14.2%) and prevalence of self-reported marijuana use was 30.4% (95% CI, 26.5%-34.4%).
Among those participants reporting delta 8-THC use (n=295), more than one-third (35.4%) used it 10 or more times in the past year. Western vs Southern census regions showed a lower prevalence of delta 8-THC use (5.0% vs 14.3%; risk difference [RD], -9.4 percentage points; 95% CI, -15.2 to -3.5 percentage points; adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 0.35; 95% CI, 0.16-0.77). Notably, these regions showed a lower prevalence of delta 8-THC use in states where delta 8-THC is regulated vs not regulated (5.7% vs 14.4%; RD, -8.6 percentage points; 95% CI, -12.9 to -4.4 percentage points; aRR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.23-0.74) and in states with vs without legal adult-use marijuana (8.0% vs 14.0%; RD, -6.0 percentage points; 95% CI, -10.8 to -1.2 percentage points; aRR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.35-0.91).
The investigators found use in the past year for delta 8-THC was lower among Hispanic vs White youth (7.3% vs 14.4%; RD, -7.2 percentage points; 95% CI, -12.2 to -2.1 percentage points; aRR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.34-0.87) and use in the past year for marijuana was lower among Hispanic vs White youth (24.5% vs 33.0%; RD, -8.5 percentage points; 95% CI, -14.9 to -2.1 percentage points; aRR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.59-0.94).
No difference by sex or parental education was found for delta 8-THC or marijuana use prevalence.
Study limitations include the exclusion of 23 states from the survey sample as well as the exclusion of students who were absent or not enrolled in school. Also, the use of hemp-derived products was not measured.
The study authors concluded, “In this nationally representative 2023 survey, 11.4% of 2186 US 12th-grade students self-reported delta 8-THC use and 30.4% self-reported marijuana use in the past year. Delta 8-THC use prevalence was higher in the South and Midwest US and in states without legal adult-use marijuana or delta 8-THC regulations.” The investigators added, “Marijuana use prevalence did not differ by cannabis policies.”
This article originally appeared on Pulmonology Advisor
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