Psychoactive Drug Study Shows 'Concerning' Use by US 12th Graders

American teenagers are increasingly using a psychoactive substance called delta-8, sparking concerns the compound could pose a serious public health risk, a nation-wide study has found.

Delta-8 THC, or delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, is similar to delta-9 THC, one of the compounds found in cannabis plants that produces a high. However, delta-8 has a different chemical structure and is usually made from cannabidiol from hemp, rather than marijuana.

As of last year, as many as 11.4 percent of US 12th graders used delta-8, according to new research by the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the University of Michigan. However, little is known about the relatively new substance and the risks it may pose.

To examine the use of the compound among young people, researchers analyzed data from 2,186 12th-grade students across 27 states. The randomly-selected participants had taken part in the in-school 'Monitoring the Future Study' survey between February and June 2023.

Of the 295 participants who reported using the drug, more than a third used it at least 10 times within a year. In Western states, 5 percent of the teenagers surveyed used Delta-8, compared to 10.1 percent in Northeastern states, 14.3 percent in Southern states and 14.6 in Midwestern states.

"Considering that Delta-8 has only been on the market since 2018, the fact we are seeing more than 11 percent of youth using it is concerning," said lead study author Alyssa F. Harlow, a clinical assistant professor in the department of population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine.

"It's evidence that we should be paying attention to these products, particularly in the areas where we saw even higher prevalence."

Delta-8 is marketed as being legal due to loopholes in federal law. Often, it's sold at gas stations or online in the form of gummies or flavored vapes, which appeal to young people.

In 2018, Congress used the farm bill to legalize hemp, but this left legal loopholes around derivative cannabis products like delta-8. In 2022, the 9th Circuit Court ruled that delta-8 products are considered legal under the 2018 farm bill.

This means it is legal for vendors to sell the compound as long as it comes from hemp, not marijuana, making delta-8 technically legal at a federal level.

However, a number of states have chosen to regulate the production and sale of delta-8. Recently, Florida law-makers approved a bill to regulate hemp-derived products in the state, effectively banning delta-8 THC.

As noted, not much is known about how delta-8 might impact health. In the study, the researchers suggest the substance could carry similar risks to marijuana, such as impacting brain development, causing behavioral problems, and risking both addiction and accidental overdose.

More research is needed to see how policy changes affect usage of delta-8 among young people, but the scientists have recommended introducing a minimum purchase age and labelling requirements, such as health warnings.

Testing products for contaminants could also help reduce the risk to young people, the study authors suggest.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal JAMA.

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