The Prospective Association Between the Use of E-Cigarettes and Other Psychoactive Substances in Young People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The use of electronic cigarettes by young people has increased exponentially in the past decade due to various health and social influences. E-cigarettes, particularly those containing nicotine, can cause health complications and addiction, which may result in a subsequent initiation of psychoactive substance use. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prospective association between e-cigarette use and subsequent use of psychoactive substances in young people aged 10-24 years. Pooling of data from the identified longitudinal studies showed that ever e-cigarette users had a higher risk for subsequent cannabis, alcohol, and unprescribed Ritalin/Adderall use compared to never e-cigarette users. The findings indicate a need for interventions to reduce e-cigarette use in adolescents and young adults.