More Than 11 Percent of US Teens Report Using Delta-8

Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in the MRI lab at the National Institutes of Health’s research hospital in Bethesda, Md., on May 16, 2019. AP/Carolyn Kaster

More than 11 percent of 12th graders in the United States have reported using delta-8—a psychoactive substance found in the cannabis saliva plant—in the past year, according to a study published on March 12.

Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the study declared that the prevalence of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol use among adolescents in the United States is a “potential public health concern.”

The researchers used a randomly selected subset of 12th-grade students across 27 U.S. states who participated in the Monitoring the Future Study in-school survey between February and June 2023.

In the sample of 2,186 12th-grade students, 11.4 percent reported using delta-8, and 30.4 percent reported using marijuana in the past year.

The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The survey was conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of NIH.

“11 percent is a lot of people – that’s at least one or two students in every average-sized high school class who may be using delta-8,” NIDA Director Nora Volkow said in a press release.

“We don’t know enough about these drugs, but we see that they are already extremely accessible to teens,” she said.

Of the 295 adolescents reported using delta-8 in the past year, 68.1 percent used delta-8 at least three times, 35. 4 percent used it at least 10 times, and 16.8 percent used it at least 40 times.

The survey also showed that delta-8 use was higher in the South and Midwest regions, as well as in states where there are no legal regulations on adult-use marijuana or delta-8.

“Cannabis use in general has been associated with negative impacts on the adolescent brain, so we must pay attention to the kinds of cannabis products teens are using, educate young people about potential risks, and ensure that treatment for cannabis use disorder and adequate mental health care is provided to those who need it,” Ms. Volkow stated.

There is no federal minimum age requirement to purchase delta-8 products, such as gummies and flavored vaping devices, which may be sold online or in gas stations and convenience stores.

According to the National Cannabis Industry Association, delta-8 was legal in 22 states and the District of Columbia as of November 2023. The substance has been banned in 17 states and severely restricted in seven.

“Delta-8 products are out there where teens can easily find and buy them, and there needs to be continued surveillance of its use, as well as public health efforts to help youth and parents stay informed and safe,” said lead author Alyssa Harlow.

Some of the side effects include adverse impact on learning, memory, and attention, as well as the potential development of psychiatric disorders such as depression, psychosis and suicidality.

In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers that delta-8 products have neither been evaluated nor approved by the agency for safe use “in any context.” Such products “may be marketed in ways that put the public health at risk.”

The FDA said it had received 104 reports of adverse events in individuals who consumed delta-8 products. Of those,  77 percent involved adults, with 55 percent requiring medical intervention or hospital admission.

“Adverse events included, but were not limited to: hallucinations, vomiting, tremor, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness,” the FDA stated. The agency also highlighted concerns regarding the synthesis process for delta-8.

The FDA pointed out that manufacturers were packaging and selling delta-8 products in a way that appeals to children. The agency specifically asked to “keep these products out of reach of children and pets.”

Naveen Athrappully contributed to this report.