CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Impact of opioid vaping on oral health
 
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1
School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
 
2
Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard, Boston, United States
 
 
Publication date: 2024-10-17
 
 
Tob. Prev. Cessation 2024;10(Supplement 1):A41
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The fundamental intention of this study is to explore cannabinoid use in e-cigarettes, the rate of their consumption by adolescents and adult smokers, and their hazardous impact on oral health and treatment.

Methods:
A detailed search has been conducted on Medline/PubMed, Nature, Google Scholar, and Academia for this study. Keywords like Cannabis, cannabinoids, electronic cigarettes, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and e-cigs were utilized to guide the search. Additional filters were used, focusing the search on the last decade (2014-2024). Multiple publications were chosen exclusively in English. Of the 65 publications handpicked, 26 were used as the most relevant.

Results:
The use of cannabinoids, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), as its predecessor, in electronic cigarettes is widespread. Users can utilize advanced vaping devices without being detected, commonly called stealth vaping. Regular cannabis smokers appear to choose e-cigarette aerosols with organoleptic solid qualities. Multiple surveys stated that the use of electronic delivery systems to inhale cannabis was more popular among 14–to 18-year-old students compared with middle school students and adults. There also appears to be a strong association between adolescent e-cigarette use and subsequent cannabis use. The highest usage rates can be observed among young adults, especially for mood-changing reasons. Cannabis (marijuana) use has seen an increase and also has risks for oral health and dental treatment, while recreational or addictive canna-vaping is theoretically possible. But more importantly, the emergence of this “new youth culture of vaping” could weaken the efficiency of anti-smoking campaigns and measures. Canna-vaping introduces numerous hazards for general health, including Lung and respiratory problems, cardiac arrhythmias, and bronchial mucosa damage, as well as oral health. Such conditions include dental caries, erosion, staining, periodontal and gum inflammation, infections, xerostomia, and cancerous and precancerous lesions.

Conclusions:
Opioid Vaping, in many ways, can threaten its users’ systematic and oral health. It deserves urgent scientific investigation and strict risk assessments, which are especially important when young people are concerned. Governments should take measures to increase awareness and take precautionary action against uncontrolled canna-vaping among adolescents, introducing age restrictions for purchasing such products.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
FUNDING
Funding is not provided.
eISSN:2459-3087
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