According to a recent analysis, approximately 11% of 12th-grade students in the United States have reported using delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8-THC), a psychoactive substance derived from hemp, in the past year. This data was gathered from the 2023 Monitoring the Future survey, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The inclusion of delta-8 in the survey was prompted by the increasing popularity of hemp-derived THC products, making the substance more accessible to teens. Previous studies have shown a connection between cannabis use and negative health impacts in adolescents, highlighting the importance of monitoring the use of delta-8 and other cannabis products in this age group.
91% of those who reported using delta-8 also reported using marijuana, contributing to the overall 30% of 12th graders who reported using marijuana in the past year. Delta-8 use was found to be more common in the South and Midwest regions and in states without cannabis legalization or regulations on delta-8. In contrast, the use of marijuana did not vary based on state-level cannabis policies. These findings were published in a brief report in JAMA and the survey was conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
NIDA Director Nora Volkow, M.D., emphasizes the significance of the 11% statistic, stating that it represents at least one or two students in every average-sized high school class who may be using delta-8. She stresses the need for more research on these drugs and the accessibility of delta-8 to teens. Volkow also points out that cannabis use in general has been linked to negative impacts on the adolescent brain and underscores the importance of educating young people about the potential risks and providing adequate treatment for those with cannabis use disorder and mental health issues.
With over 100 cannabinoids in the Cannabis sativa plant, delta-8 is one of the many substances that can be derived from it. Unlike delta-9, there is no federal minimum age requirement to purchase delta-8 products, which can easily be found online, in gas stations, and convenience stores. In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the serious health risks associated with using delta-8 THC, including reports of adverse events and risks of exposure to toxic byproducts.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the negative effects of adolescent cannabis use on learning, memory, and attention, as well as changes in brain development and the development of cannabis use disorder and other psychiatric disorders. Currently, there are no medications to specifically treat cannabis use disorder and the existing treatments are primarily through psychosocial interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy. Further research is needed to fully understand how delta-8 affects these and other health outcomes.
The analysis of the Monitoring the Future survey also found that delta-8 use was more prevalent in the South and Midwest, with 14% of 12th graders in these regions reporting use compared to 10% in the Northeast and 5% in the West. In states without cannabis legalization, 14% of students reported using delta-8, compared to 8% in states with legalization. In states without delta-8 regulations, 14% reported use, while 6% reported use in states with delta-8 legislation. Lead author of the study, Dr. Alyssa Harlow, emphasizes the need for continued surveillance and public health efforts to educate youth and parents about the risks of delta-8.
The Monitoring the Future survey is given annually to students in eighth, 10th, and 12th grades, who self-report their substance use behaviors over different time periods. In 2023, the survey included questions about delta-8 for the first time and was administered to a randomly selected one-third of 12th graders, resulting in 2,186 students from 27 states. Due to the prevalence of use found in the survey, questions about delta-8 have been added to future surveys for all age groups.