As more states in the US legalize recreational cannabis, concerns about increased teen use are on the rise. A recent study conducted by researchers at UC Davis focused on the combined use of cannabis and tobacco among high school students in California. The study, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, revealed that students who use both substances have higher rates of absenteeism and lower grades compared to non-users or those who use only one of the products.
The research analyzed data from the California Healthy Kids Survey, which included responses from nearly 300,000 high school students. The study found that students who used both tobacco and cannabis reported the highest absenteeism rates, missing an average of three days of school in the past month. Additionally, these students were more likely to have lower grades than their peers.
The US Surgeon General has raised concerns about the health risks of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products on young adults, highlighting the potential for addiction and respiratory health issues. It is crucial for schools and parents to work together to prevent tobacco and cannabis use among teens and educate them about the risks associated with these substances.
Schools and parents play a key role in prevention
The study acknowledged some limitations, such as the self-reported nature of the data and the exclusion of absent students from the survey. However, it underscored the importance of ongoing efforts to prevent substance use among teens, including the use of programs like the Tobacco Use Prevention Education initiative in California schools.
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