2-01-2024 5:03am

Local Teen Asthma Rates

Baltimore County Health Alert: Rising Asthma Rates in Teens Linked to Legal Cannabis. Doctor Explains

The Health Standard Newswire

The Big Picture: Dr. Adriana Davis, Family Medicine, "...no doubt about it, cannabis use is making asthma worse in teens and beyond."

A new study highlights a worrying pattern: as more states legalize recreational cannabis, there's an increase in asthma cases among teenagers and certain groups of minority children. This finding suggests that the use of cannabis by adults and teens might be harming the respiratory health of children.

Doctor's Expert Insights about Cannabis Use and Asthma in Maryland

Know this: "This new finding underscores that increased cannabis use by teens and use around children is impacting their health negatively. Rising teen asthma rates in states with legal recreational cannabis hint at the unintended consequences of legalization. This isn't just a statistic--it's a wake-up call! Every puff of cannabis smoke that lingers in our homes is weaving a complex web of respiratory challenges for our children. It's crucial that we understand the far-reaching impact of our actions and ensure the air our kids breathe is as safe and clean as possible." Dr. Adriana Davis, Family Medicine.

Beyond the news: The implications of this study are highlighting future public health challenges. Especially as more states consider legalizing recreational cannabis.

Next steps for you in Baltimore County: If you're using cannabis around young children in the home, please understand the negative impact of the smoke on their lung health.

Key Findings:

Asthma Prevalence: Asthma affects approximately 5 million children in the United States. Asthma is one of the most common chronic health conditions among children. In 2019, the nationwide rate of asthma in children was approximately 7%.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure: The link between Secondhand Tobacco Smoke (STS) exposure and increased asthma exacerbation in children is well known. Exposure to STS is associated with more frequent asthma symptoms, more missed school days, increased hospitalizations, and higher emergency department use among children.

Cannabis Use Trends: As tobacco smoking has declined, cannabis use, particularly in homes with minor children, has been on the rise. This is especially prevalent in states where cannabis is legalized for recreational use.

This increase is consistent across various demographic groups.

"While tremendous progress has been made in asthma management in concert with tobacco control over the past several decades, the possibility that increased adult cannabis use may pose new risks, requires more in-depth study and, in particular, to learn whether SCS is associated with increases in asthma morbidity, including symptom frequency, use of rescue medicines, impairment—including missed school days -- and emergency medical services..." Renee Goodwin, PhD, MPH.

Data Show:

Approximately 3 in 10 (30%) of people who use marijuana have Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD).
Long-term or frequent marijuana use has been linked to an increased risk of psychosis or schizophrenia in some users. (CDC)

Health Alert for Baltimore County

Key Drivers:

The study found that the prevalence of asthma increased among adolescents in states where cannabis is legal for recreational use.

Of note: Parents with minor children living in states with recreational cannabis laws (RCL) reported a higher rate of cannabis use (11.9%) compared to those in states with medical cannabis laws (MCL) at 9.5%, and the rate was lowest in states where cannabis is completely illegal (6.1%).

The study found the highest prevalence of cannabis use among young adults aged 18–25 in states with RCL (19.9%) and among individuals who identified as non-Hispanic Black in RCL states (20.2%). This suggests that young adults and non-Hispanic Black populations in states where recreational cannabis is legal are the most likely to use cannabis.

What they're saying: "Increases in the prevalence of asthma were observed in states with recreational cannabis legalization among youth 12–17 years old and among youth in NH other race/ethnicity groups. This suggests that rapid changes in state-level cannabis policy could have downstream effects for children's asthma." (Study Source)