How Degrees of Vape Use Relate to Illicit Substance Use by Youth Aged 13 To 17 in The United States

Neurobiology studies on co-occurrence of nicotine and addiction indicate that nicotine primes the brain for greater likelihood of experimentation with illicit drugs and increases risk of addiction. Young people, whose brains are still developing, may experience greater and longer lasting neurobiological changes upon addiction or even mere exposure to nicotine [1]. In laboratory experiments, mice pre-exposed with nicotine via cigarette or vape demonstrated addictive behaviors around THC; however, mice pre-exposed with normal air did not demonstrate these addictive behaviors [2]. Nicotine use can also increase the rewarding feeling derived from using other mind-altering drugs; therefore, vaping itself may be a dangerous gateway that increases the propensity for other types of substance use and addiction [3].