Initiation of vaporizing cannabis: Individual and social network predictors in a longitudinal study of young adults

• Published in: Drug and alcohol dependence Vol. 188; pp. 334 - 340
• Main Authors: Cassidy, Rachel N., Meisel, Matthew K., DiGuiseppi, Graham, Balestrieri, Sara, Barnett, Nancy P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.07.2018; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Cannabis; College students; Colleges & universities; Correlation analysis; Electronic cigarettes; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; ENDS; Female; First year; Forecasting; Humans; Influence; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Marijuana; Marijuana Smoking - epidemiology; Marijuana Smoking - psychology; Marijuana Smoking - trends; Nicotine; Peer networks; Peer relationships; Peers; Polls & surveys; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Social networks; Social organization; Social Support; Students - psychology; Substance abuse; Substance use; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tetrahydrocannabinol; Universities - trends; Vaping; Vaping - psychology; Vaping - trends; Vaporization; Young Adult; Young adults; ENDS; Vaping; Cannabis; Young adults; Peer networks
• ISSN: 0376-8716; 1879-0046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.04.014

•We analyzed a longitudinal social network sample of first-year college students.•Lifetime cannabis use and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use were risk factors for beginning cannabis vaping.•Close peers who initiated cannabis vaping also increased risk for initiation. A trend has recently emerged of individuals using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or similar devices to vaporize cannabis, either in the form of high-potency THC concentrates or cannabis plant material. Peer use is central to the adoption of substance use behaviors in young adulthood, but little is known about peer influence for initiating cannabis vaping. A longitudinal investigation of first-year college students (N = 1313) using social network methods was conducted to determine the prevalence of vaping cannabis, differences in networks between individuals who initiate vaping cannabis, and predictors of initiation of vaping cannabis across two time points. The surveys were available for two weeks beginning in the sixth week of each semester. We found that 9.4% vaped in their lifetime but not since the first survey, 7.5% vaped in their lifetime and since the first survey, and 5.9% reported vaping cannabis at the second survey. Lifetime cannabis use, lifetime ENDS use, and number of peers who initiated vaping cannabis from Time 1 to Time 2 were significantly associated with increased odds of the initiation of vaping cannabis; the number of any-cannabis-using or any-ENDS-using peers was not associated with increased odds of initiating vaping cannabis. Individuals with the greatest risk of initiation of vaping cannabis during the first year of college are those with a prior history of other cannabis use and ENDS use and who have peers in their network who initiate cannabis vaping.