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Symone Dozier

Professor Leptak

English 1201

24 October 2021

How are young adolescents getting access to drugs?

How are middle school students and young teens getting access to drugs like nicotine and

marijuana at such a young age and how, does that affect their mental processing and educational

development? When did nicotine and marijuana become so popular in the worlds of young

teenagers and middle schoolers?

Electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) gained traction in the mid-2000s, and the number of

individuals using them has been on the rise ever since. In 2015, JUUL launched its brand new

concentrated e-cigarette with nine different flavor options with an included kit. JUUL’s main

claim is that their products deliver an exceptional nicotine experience designed for adult smokers

looking for an alternative to traditional cigarettes. But their electronic nicotine delivery system

exceeded the prevalence of combustible tobacco use among the youth in the USA. Juul also uses

strategies that may appeal to youth. Hence the rise of young people with nicotine addiction at a

young age (Willett 115-166).

Vaporized marijuana devices (dab pens) have been around since the 1970s. But dab pens

lost popularity for several decades like e-cigarettes; they regained their popularity in the

mid-2000s with new marketing strategies aimed towards young people. Thereby causing

individuals to fall into other drugs via gateway use. Research links adolescent cigarette use and
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marijuana use to using other illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, and illicit use of

over-the-counter drugs (Boccio and Jackson).

Although marijuana is a gateway drug, it does have some natural benefits; some

individuals prefer to take the more natural route regarding pain management and mental health

using CBD and THC instead of antidepressants or Tylenol. Adults have reported using marijuana

in the past year. About 81% of U.S. adults believe marijuana has at least 1 benefit, whereas 17%

believe it has no benefit. The most common benefit cited was pain management (66%), followed

by treatment of diseases, such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis (48%), and relief from anxiety,

stress, and depression (47%) (Salomeh).

Marijuana has an age limit of twenty-one because adult brains are finished developing at

that stage, which is why marijuana is illegal for adolescent consumption until adulthood.

Consuming nicotine or marijuana via vape could have a negative effect on a growing brain and

could be harmful. Marijuana use is associated with negative consequences for adolescents

including school failure, increased risk of driving accidents, mental health, and psychosocial

problems (Ngoc).

Electronic cigarettes and vaporized marijuana devices both have the potential to lead a

young person into an addiction that could lead to illness and mental health problems. Long-term

use of electronic cigarettes and vaporized marijuana devices can cause greater impulsivity,

increased anxiety, and poor academic performance in school. Adolescents can be put at risk for

adverse health outcomes such as psychological illness and lung issues.

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Works Cited

Boccio, Cashen M., and Dylan B. Jackson. “Adolescent Nicotine and Marijuana Vaping Activity

and the Use of Other Illicit Substances.” Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 219, Feb.

2021. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108469.

Jun, Jungmi, et al. “Tobacco Risk Information and Comparative Risk Assessment of E-Cigarettes

Vs. Cigarettes: Application of the Reinforcing Spirals Model.” Journal of Health

Communication, vol. 24, no. 4, Apr. 2019, pp. 422–431. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1080/10810730.2019.1630526.

Keyhani, Salomeh, et al. "Risks and benefits of marijuana use: a national survey of US adults."

Annals of internal medicine 169.5 (2018): 282-290.

Marques, Patrice, et al. “An Updated Overview of E-Cigarette Impact on Human Health.”

Respiratory Research, vol. 22, no. 1, May 2021, pp. 1–14. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1186/s12931-021-01737-5.

Nguyen, Ngoc N. “The Significance of School-Based Programs, School-Based Activities, and

Community-Based Activities Against Marijuana Use Among Adolescents.” Journal of

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Drug Issues, vol. 51, no. 4, Oct. 2021, pp. 711–721. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=s3h&AN=152373415&site=eds-live.

Terry-McElrath, Yvonne M., et al. “Changes in the Order of Cigarette and Marijuana Initiation

and Associations with Cigarette Use, Nicotine Vaping, and Marijuana Use: U.S. 12th

Grade Students, 2000–2019.” Prevention Science, vol. 21, no. 7, Oct. 2020, pp. 960–971.

EBSCOhost, doi:10.1007/s11121-020-01150-2.

Willett, Jeffrey G., et al. "Recognition, use and perceptions of JUUL among youth and young

adults." Tobacco control 28.1 (2019): 115-116.