News & Events
Much of our work involves measuring the difference others make. Getting involved and making our own difference is also an important part of who we are as individuals and as an organization.
The new HIDTA California Marijuana Impact Report is here. The report will be highlighted in a community briefing that will focus on the rising impact of marijuana on public health, including youth mental health, and its potential links to suicide. The data will show trends in cannabis-related hospitalizations, addiction, and psychosis—particularly among youth—this event aims to raise awareness and advocate for urgent prevention efforts.
Data highlights from the report:
In 2022, 43% of suicides among individuals 25 and under in San Diego County involved THC.
Emergency visits due to marijuana rose by 521% in California from 2008 to 2022.
Youth aged 12–17 accounted for nearly 38% of marijuana treatment admissions in 2023.
High-potency cannabis is increasingly linked to psychosis and cannabis use disorder.
CCR and CPHI offered technical assistance and media support for this event.
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Now, researchers are coming to understand the hazards of vapes themselves. In a study from last month, for example, a team of scientists analyzed the mist from popular vapes and found such high levels of heavy metals that one researcher thought their machine had malfunctioned. Other studies have suggested that vaping can affect the heart, lungs and brain.
Data on the long-term health effects is limited, because vapes are relatively new and constantly evolving. Many people who use them are in their teens or 20s; it might take a while before further effects become apparent. Consumers also often use both cigarettes and vapes, which makes it difficult to isolate harms from vaping alone. Vaping is still less common than cigarette use among U.S. adults, 4.5 percent of whom said they vaped in2021. Nearly 8 percent of high school students reported vaping in the last month in a 2024 survey.
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In this survey study of 7612 adolescents, frequent exposure to cannabis posts on social media broadly was associated with solo e-cigarette use, solo cannabis use, and dual use initiation a year later, whereas platform-specific exposure to e-cigarette posts on TikTok was associated with solo cannabis and dual use initiation. Exposure to e-cigarette and cannabis posts from microinfluencers was associated with past-month cannabis use, whereas exposure to e-cigarette posts from friends was associated with past-month dual use; exposure to friends’ cannabis posts was also associated with past-month cannabis and dual use.
Since exposure to e-cigarette or cannabis posts may contribute to adolescent e-cigarette, cannabis, or dual use, improvement of social media community guidelines and greater policy attention to co-use and marketing of e-cigarettes and cannabis may help prevent youth substance use.
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The researchers found that current cannabis use among older adults grew to 7 percent in 2023, up from 4.8 percent in 2021 and 5.2 percent in 2022—a nearly 46 percent increase in only two years. Cannabis can complicate the management of chronic diseases and be potentially harmful if patients are not educated on its use and potential risks.
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June 6th is National Naloxone Awareness Day which aims to raise awareness about naloxone (Narcan), a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, and to encourage wider access to this vital resource.
About Narcan/Naloxone:
- Mechanism of Action: Naloxone effectively blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and restores normal breathing.
- Forms of Administration: Naloxone can be administered as a nasal spray, or by injection.
- Over-the-Counter Availability: As of March 2023, the FDA approved naloxone nasal spray (including Narcan™) for over-the-counter sale, making it easier for people to access.
- Effectiveness and Safety: Naloxone is safe and effective and can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose within minutes. It will not cause harm to someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose.
- Important Note: While naloxone can save a life by temporarily reversing an overdose, it's crucial to call emergency medical services (like 911) immediately after administering it. Naloxone's effects can wear off, and the person may require further medical attention.
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