From Weed to Nicotine: What New Research Reveals About Teen Risk
Why informed conversations matter now more than ever
At the National Family Partnership, we’ve spent decades focused on one truth: when families are informed and engaged, young people are safer.
Today, emerging research is sending a clear message. Youth who use marijuana are far more likely to go on to use tobacco and nicotine products, increasing their risk for long‑term health consequences.
What the Latest Research Shows
Long‑term studies tracking adolescents and young adults reveal a strong progression from marijuana use to regular tobacco use. As marijuana becomes more accessible and socially accepted, the likelihood of youth experimenting — and then escalating — increases.
Researchers warn that this pattern may lead to hundreds of thousands of additional young people becoming long‑term tobacco users, driven in part by early cannabis exposure.
Read more about the findings:
https://today.ucsd.edu/story/teenagers-and-young-adults-who-use-cannabis-have-a-higher-risk-of-progressing-to-regular-tobacco-use
Why This Connection Is Concerning
Nicotine addiction is one of the hardest habits to break, especially when it begins during adolescence. Tobacco use impacts:
Brain development
Mental health
Long‑term physical well‑being
When marijuana and tobacco use overlap — particularly through vaping — the risks increase, and quitting becomes harder.
The Power of Informed Conversations
Parents and caregivers play a critical role in prevention. Research consistently shows that youth are less likely to engage in risky behaviors when adults talk openly and honestly with them.
Here’s how to start:
Ask what they’re seeing or hearing at school or online
Share facts without judgment
Set clear expectations while keeping communication open
Reinforce that asking questions is always okay
Resources to Support Families
SAMHSA – Parent Conversation Tools:
🔗 https://www.samhsa.gov/talk-they-hear-youNational Institute on Drug Abuse – Youth Resources:
🔗 https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/parents-educators
At the National Family Partnership, we know that the more parents understand emerging risks, the more confidently they can guide their children. Prevention isn’t about reacting after harm happens — it’s about staying informed, connected, and proactive.
When families talk, youth listen.
And when families act, communities grow stronger.