How Vaping and Dab Pens May Impact Your Mental Health

Swift Summary

• cannabis consumption methods have evolved beyond traditional smoking to include vaping and dabbing, offering higher-potency options but accompanying greater health risks.
• Vaping involves heating cannabis oil or flower to produce vapor for inhalation, often using high-potency concentrates. It is discreet and popular among adults aged 18-24.
• Dabbing uses concentrated THC oils like wax or shatter, which deliver highly potent effects but require specific paraphernalia. Handheld dab pens are a more portable alternative.
• THC potency has significantly increased over decades:

– Traditional marijuana flower averages 18% THC today vs. 4% in teh 1960s.
– Concentrates for vaping or dabbing can contain up to 95% THC, increasing negative health risks like anxiety, psychosis, and cognitive decline-especially in teens with developing brains.

• Health risks associated with high-potency cannabis use include:

– Long-term mental health issues: anxiety disorders, psychosis, depression; particularly pronounced in adolescents who are at an 11-fold higher risk of psychotic disorders from frequent use of strong cannabis products.- Physical complications from vaping: “popcorn lung,” respiratory issues due to contaminants (e.g., metals/pesticides).

• Rates of cannabis addiction (cannabis use disorder) have risen-affecting nearly one-third of users-particularly among heavy users and younger individuals with immature brain growth.
• Debate over federal regulations: Advocates aim for reclassification of cannabis at federal levels (from DEA Schedule I to III) to allow stricter regulation on THC limits.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The evolution toward higher-potency cannabis signifies a growing challenge worldwide as advancements in technology streamline access while amplifying potential harms.For India-a nation grappling with cultural views on substance use-the implications could be important if these trends gain traction domestically as part of global consumption patterns.

India already faces emerging issues surrounding youth substance abuse amid rising urbanization and adoption of Western lifestyles. The clear evidence about adolescent brain vulnerability presented here aligns closely with concerns raised by education and public health experts in India regarding early exposure to drugs or alcohol. This could prompt policymakers to preemptively regulate substances that emulate global distribution mechanisms such as vapes/dabs.

Furthermore, the push for rigorous scientific research into medical marijuana’s therapeutic benefits underscores india’s prospect-as home to Ayurveda-to align ancient knowledge systems with modern pharmacological findings. However, stringent measures addressing the accessibility and concentrated potency risks among young populations would likely remain crucial.

Read more: National Geographic