Effect of Cannabis Smoking on Lung Function and Respiratory Symptoms in Adolescents

Adolescents, Drugs, and COVID-19: Special Challenges During the Pandemic

“…Although there is no research to date that assesses this risk in this population, studies comparing respiratory symptoms and lung functions among adolescents who use substances (cannabis, volatile solvents, and other substances by inhalational route) with age-matched healthy controls have reported significantly higher respiratory symptoms (cough, expectoration, dyspnoea, emphysema, and bronchitis) and decease in spirometric parameters. [8][9][10] This may put them at a higher risk of getting coronavirus infection or increased risk of severe disease in comparison to adolescents who do not use substances. Adolescents with immunocompromised status, a significant proportion of whom are formed by adolescents who inject drugs, 11 are also at a higher risk of infection and mortality.…”