(Washington, DC) — A top official from the National Institute on Drug Abuse is urging Americans to look at the kinds of cannabis products teens are using. That comes after a recent study reported high school seniors are using the psychoactive substance delta-8.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the study found that more than one in ten high school seniors reported using it in the past year. The director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse said in a press release that “cannabis use in general has been associated with negative impacts on the adolescent brain,” so it’s important to educate them about the risks.
Delta-8 is one of over 100 cannabinoids in the Cannabis sativa plant. No federal minimum age requirement exists to purchase delta-8 products, which may be sold online or in gas stations and convenience stores. In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer update warning of the serious health risks associated with the use of delta-8 THC, including reports of adverse events involving the use of delta-8 products and risks of exposure to toxic byproducts.
