A new study found that children who use e-cigarettes or other traditional marijuana products are significantly more likely than non-users to review symptoms of depression and stress. Between 2021 and 2023, researchers analyzed data from more than 60, 000 U.S. middle and high school kids.
Teens who use both regular products and e-cigarettes had the highest likelihood of having mental health issues. These findings emphasize the need for specific anti-tabacco and emotional health programs for young people.
Important Information
- Teenagers who use tobacco review more depressive and anxiety symptoms.
- Teens who use both e-cigarettes and regular cigarette are at higher risk.
- Public Health Need: Designed anti-tabacco and mental health programs are essential.
PLOS One Resource
According to a study conducted by Noor Abdulhay of West Virginia University, USA and colleagues, adolescents who use either e-cigarettes or conventional tobacco products ( CTP ) ( such as cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, pipes, and cigars ) are significantly more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.
There is a known advanced, bilateral relationship between marijuana use and mental health issues. Understanding the relationship between youthful tobacco use and mental health is crucial because it marks the beginning of a number of health-related risk-taking behaviors in youth. Additionally, there are changing trends of tobacco use and rising rates of anxiety, depression, and death among adolescents in the United States.
Experts in the new study used data from the 2021-2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey to analyze tobacco use, melancholy, and anxiety symptoms among various demographics. Among the 60, 072 middle- and high-school students who had completed all of the questionnaires in full, 21.37 % used tobacco products, with 3.6 % using only CTPs, and 7 % using both.
Overall, 29.55 % of respondents reported symptoms of anxiety, while 25.21 % of them described depression. People of e-cigarettes , or , CTPs had the highest chances of reporting emotional health problems compared to adolescents who had not used any tobacco products.
The authors come to the conclusion that “while causation cannot be determined, the findings of this study demonstrated that mental health issues were substantially related to all forms of tobacco employ.” To battle all forms of tobacco usage among children, it is necessary to keep promoting mental health aid and implementing customized interventions.
About this information from smoking and mental health research
Publisher: Charlotte Bhaskar
Source: PLOS
Contact: Charlotte Bhaskar – PLOS
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Classic research: Free of charge.
Nor Abdulhay et al.,” Mental health benefits associated with electronic cigarettes use, flammable tobacco use, and double use among U.S. children: Perspectives from the National Youth Tobacco Survey.” PLOS Psychiatric Health
Abstract
According to findings from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, mental health effects are linked to two use, explosive tobacco, and electronic cigarettes among American children.
The development of mental wellness during childhood is crucial. In the United States ( U. S. ), there are becoming higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among adolescents.
Teenager mental health is in serious danger from tobacco use, especially electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes ) and dual use with combustible tobacco products ( CTP).
This study examines the relationship between several middle and high school students ‘ mental health effects and several tobacco use information.
Data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2021 to 2023 were analyzed. Over the course of three times, a quarter of eligible students took the study.
The Patient Health Questionnaire ( PHQ-4), which measures depression and anxiety symptoms, was used to determine two binary variables ( <, 3 vs. 3 ), with scores of 3 indicating probable cases. Using PHQ-4 total scores, PHQ-4 total scores, the psychological distress was categorized as normal ( 0–2 ), mild ( 3–5 ), moderate ( 6–8 ), and severe ( 9–12 ).
Tobacco use was classified as ever e-cigarette-only, always CTP-only, actually dual use, and never non-use.
Odds ratios ( OR ) and 95 % confidence intervals ( CI) were estimated using descriptive statistics and weighted multivariable logistic and ordinal regression models, after taking into account potential confounders.
Among the 60, 072 adolescents analyzed, 15, 222 ( 25.21 % ) had depression and 17, 790 ( 29.55 % ) had anxiety symptoms.
Compared to adolescents who were non-users, those who were ever dual users had the highest odds, with adjusted OR of 1.90 ( 95 %CI: 1.58-1.94 ) for symptoms of depression, 1.58 ( 95 %CI: 1.40-1.78 ) for symptoms of anxiety, and 1.75 ( 95 %CI: 1.58-1.94 ) for overall psychological distress.
Additionally, among adolescents who only used e-cigarettes and those who only used CTP, there were considerably higher possibilities than non-users.
This review identifies a clear link between marijuana use and poor mental health in children.
These findings provide supporting evidence for upcoming research and policy on youthful marijuana use and mental health.
