![]() Dabs are referred to by several colloquial terms such as ‘budder’, ‘earwax’, ‘honeycomb’ or ‘shatter’ among others ( 13). This concentrate, referred to as butane hash oil, or butane honey oil (BHO), can take several forms, from a thick liquid to a firm, almost glassy solid. ![]() Dab pens are typically the size of a highlighter and are used exclusively with cannabis concentrates (called dabs) created through butane extraction. They can generally be divided into two categories: dab pens and vaporizers. Importantly, cannabis vaping has been associated with increased amounts of cannabis consumed when compared with other modes of consumption ( 12).Ĭannabis vaping devices come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and designs. While nicotine vaping remains more common than cannabis vaping, the boundaries between the two substances appear to be thinning. A recent online survey also found that 44% of American adolescents who had tried cannabis had tried cannabis vaping ( 10).Īccording to a recent meta-analysis, use of nicotine containing e-cigarettes increases the odds of cannabis use 3.5-fold among adolescents and young adults, suggesting a strong association between the two substances ( 11). Similar trends have been reported in the USA, where lifetime cannabis vaping increased from 4.9% to 7.5% among grade 12 students, 4.3% to 7.0% among grade 10 students, and 1.6% to 2.6% among grade 8 students between 20 alone ( 9). Data from Ontario also shows an increase in the proportion of high-school students (grades 9 to 12) who reported cannabis vaping in the past 12 months from 5.1% in 2015 to 6.9% in 2017 ( 4). In Canada, the use of vape pens increased from 20% to 26% among adolescents and young adults with cannabis use between 20 ( 8). Although combustible cannabis (i.e., smoked as a joint or using a pipe) remains the most common mode of cannabis consumption among teens ( 6), cannabis vaping is becoming more and more common among youth. Steady increases in cannabis vaping, which mirror rapid increases in rates of e-cigarette use among youth, have been noted across North America. In this article, we describe cannabis vaping trends and products, discuss some of the specific health risks and youth perceptions of cannabis vaping, and present key clinical considerations for paediatric providers. Of concern, youth who vape cannabis are at risk of developing e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injuries (EVALI) ( 6) and often use very high-potency products, which may lead to more severe health consequences than the use of other forms of cannabis ( 7).Ĭannabis vaping has become one of the most popular modes of cannabis consumption among youth. Youth-friendly designs, aggressive marketing by e-cigarette and cannabis companies, increased access due to legalization, and low perceived riskiness are only some of the factors that may have led to such a rapid increase in popularity of cannabis vaping among youth. In Canada, one-third of adolescents who report e-cigarette use also report using their vaping device to consume cannabis ( 5). Nicotine vaping remains more common than cannabis vaping yet, the overlap between those two substances is significant. While rates of tobacco use in North America have been decreasing steadily and rates of cannabis use among youth under age 18 have trended downwards since the turn of the century, nicotine and cannabis vaping have seen unprecedented increases in popularity among youth in the span of less than a decade ( 2–4). The risks of vaping for children and youth were forecasted in a 2015 statement from the Canadian Paediatric Society but the rapidity of uptake of this method of consumption was clearly underestimated ( 1). ![]() While research is still lacking on how best to support youth who may have already initiated cannabis vaping, concerted efforts among paediatric providers, public health experts, schools, communities, and families are urgently needed to limit the spread of cannabis vaping among Canadian youth. The low perceived riskiness of cannabis as a substance and of vaping as a mode of consumption may bring a false sense of security and be particularly appealing for youth who may be looking for a ‘healthier way’ to use substances. Though cannabis vaping is thought to generate fewer toxic emissions than cannabis smoking, it has been associated with several cases of acute lung injury and often involves high-potency forms of cannabis, exposing youth to several acute and long-term health risks. While nicotine remains the most common substance encountered in vaping devices, cannabis vaping is now reported by one-third of youth who vape. The rapid emergence of youth vaping has completely changed the landscape of adolescent substance use in Canada and has become a pressing public health issue of our time.
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