Jim Liebelt's Youth Culture Watch

Synthetic Storm: What’s Really in Your Teen’s Vape — and Why Scientists Are Alarmed

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by ScienceDaily.

Novel research has revealed that adolescent vaping of current delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) has increased between 2021 and 2023. Also, adolescents are increasingly unsure about the substances they vaped in their e-cigarettes. A new study appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicinesheds light on this alarming trend and contributes to informing evidence-based public health policies and harm reduction strategies aimed at protecting youth from the long-term consequences of vaping.

Vaping of substances other than nicotine has become increasingly popular among adolescents in the United States. The current study analyzed national trends of adolescent cannabis vaping from the National Youth Tobacco Survey for 2021, 2022, and 2023, comprising a total of 69,899 US middle and high school students (aged 11 to 18 years).

Lead investigator Jack Chung, BApsych (Hons), National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, and School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, says, "We found a significant increase in adolescent vaping of THC, CBD, and SCs from 2021 to 2023. THC vaping peaked in 2022 while the use of SCs continued to increase. Adolescents increasingly expressed uncertainty about the substances they were vaping; for example, uncertain respondents answering 'don't know' if they have vaped SCs tripled across the years. Our results also showed that females had a higher prevalence of THC, CBD, and SCs vaping compared to males."

In 2023, it is estimated that 7.4% (or 2.55 million) of US adolescents were currently vaping THC, while 2.9% (or 999,000) were vaping CBD, and 1.8% (or 620,000) were vaping SCs. Individuals who vape cannabis exhibit more mental health symptoms compared to those who use traditional combustion methods of dry herbs and flowers. SCs are typically lab-synthesized to mimic the effects of naturally occurring cannabinoids and often bind more strongly to brain receptors, leading to more intense and unpredictable health consequences.

Mr. Chung remarked, "One of the most unexpected findings from our study was the continued rise in adolescent use of SCs. This trend is particularly alarming given that these substances are often accessed through unregulated, illicit markets, where there are no safety standards or quality controls. The growing popularity of SCs among youth raises serious concerns about potential health risks and highlights the urgent need for targeted public health interventions and regulatory oversight. These synthetic cannabinoids products could potentially be deadly, with many adolescents unknowingly vaping these harmful and synthetic substances."

Source: ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250701020649.htm

Unhealthy Teen Diets Reshape the Brain and Drive Lifelong Eating Habits

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by News Medical.

Researchers have recently reviewed the existing literature to understand how an adolescent’s eating behavior affects the development of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HPC), as well as overall health.

The transition from childhood to adolescence also involves a shift from dependence on direct control mechanisms linked to food and sensory receptors to an increasing reliance on indirect control mechanisms that facilitate adjustments in one's eating behavior.

In contrast to children whose eating behavior is primarily determined by hunger and fullness cues, adolescents’ eating behavior is significantly influenced by multiple external factors, including personal beliefs, media, food preferences, and peer pressure. The modern food environment features easy-to-access, highly palatable foods with high levels of fat, sugar, and salt, often directly marketed to adolescents. These ingredients typically increase food cravings by bypassing the normal regulatory controls.

Multiple studies have shown that compared to children, adolescents are more commonly inclined towards consuming hyper-palatable and ultra-processed foods (UPF), which are widely available in Western countries. These studies have also pointed out that adolescents are the highest consumers of high-fat, high-sugar (HFHS) foods, which cause obesity and metabolic disease. According to U.S. data, ultra-processed foods account for approximately 65% of total energy intake among adolescents, who also have the highest intake of added sugars. In the last three decades, a rapid increase in the prevalence of adolescent obesity has been recorded, with rates having quadrupled during this period.

Adolescent rats fed an HFHS diet for just a month exhibited a reduced number of fast-acting parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons and perineuronal nets (PNNs) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which disrupts neuroplasticity. Notably, adolescent rodents exposed to a Western diet for as little as one week exhibited rapid onset of anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors, a vulnerability not observed in adults.

HFHS foods were found to promote impulsivity, especially during adolescence.

Rodents fed with high-fat food demonstrated increased oxidative stress in the hippocampus, higher memory impairments, anxiety, and decreased social interaction. Similarly, rodents fed high-fructose corn syrup, a key ingredient in most soda drinks, exhibited impaired hippocampal-dependent spatial learning and memory in both male and female rats.

Taken together, the habitual feeding behaviors developed during adolescence may trigger long-lasting alterations in brain circuitry that could influence health throughout the lifespan. While much of the mechanistic evidence is derived from animal studies, human epidemiological and neuroimaging data are generally consistent with these findings; however, direct causal pathways require further investigation.

Source: News Medical
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250624/Unhealthy-teen-diets-reshape-the-brain-and-drive-lifelong-eating-habits-study-finds.aspx

Third Of Young Adults Think July 4th Celebrates Independence From Native Americans

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by StudyFinds.

Independence Day may be synonymous with summer, but a survey found one in three Americans don’t know how to spell “independence,” and even fewer know why Americans celebrate on the Fourth of July!

A poll of 1030 Americans found that over a third spell independence incorrectly. Moreover, researchers add that internet searches for “how to spell independence” skyrocket by 85 percent during the July 4th holiday weekend.

The most common way people misspell this important word in the American lexicon is by using an “a” — spelling it “independance.”

Other common misspellings include independense, indpendence, indiependence, and independents — which is actually a real word, but there’s no such thing as Independents Day.

As most elementary school students could tell you, July 4th commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, signaling the nation’s freedom from British rule. However, the poll found that two in three young adults in Gen Z don’t know who America declared its independence from.

In fact, one in three Gen Zers thinks July 4th celebrates America’s independence from the Native Americans!

Overall, less than 58 percent of all respondents correctly answered that America gained its freedom from Great Britain. Nearly eight percent said “Europe.” Over eight percent said “South America,” and more than 12 percent chose “none of the above!”

Source: StudyFinds
https://studyfinds.org/americans-cant-spell-independence/

What's Hot? 07/03/25

Trending Today on X - 7/3/25
 1. $CHERRY
2. $GGX
3. Diogo Jota
4. Hakeem Jeffries
5. 4th of July
6. Independence Day
7. Helldivers 2
8. Temu Obama
9. #YNWA
10. #thursdayvibes
Source: X 

Trending Today on Google - 7/3/25
 1. Diogo Jota
2. Mexico - Honduras
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4. Kathy Griffin
5. House Vote on 'Big Beautiful Bill'
6. Laura Loomer
7. Diego Luna Soccer
8. Estados Unidos - Guatemala
9. Clayton Kershaw
10. Hakeem Jeffries
Source: Google

Top Five on Apple Music - 7/3/25
 1. What I Want - Morgan Wallen
2. Just in Case - Morgan Wallen
3. I'm the Problem - Morgan Wallen
4. I Got Better - Morgan Wallen
5. Superman - Morgan Wallen
Source: Apple Music

Top Box Office Movies - Weekend of 6/27/25
1. F1: The Movie
2. How to Train Your Dragon
3. Elio
4. M3GAN 2.0
5. 28 Years Later
Source: Showtimes.com 

TV Shows Trending on Streaming Services - 7/3/25
 1. The Bear - Disney+
2. Smoke - AppleTV+
3. Squid Game - Netflix
4. Countdown - Prime Video
5. The Waterfront - Netflix
Source: Reelgood

Trending Today on YouTube - 7/3/25
 1. DIA DELICIA - NAKAMA
2. Starting Our High School Career!
3. YoungBoy Never Broke Again - DIESEL / OVER
4. Phoenix: Fire and Life Incarnate
5. Mexico 1-0 Honduras
Source: YouTube

Netflix Top 5 TV Shows in the U.S. Today - 7/3/25
 1. Squid Game
2. The Waterfront
3. Attack on London: Hunting the 7/7 Bombers
4. The Ultimatum: Queer Love
5. Ginny & Georgia
Source: FlixPatrol

Teen Drivers Spend a Fifth of the Time Looking at Their Smartphone

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by HealthDay.

About a fifth of the time, a teenage driver is looking at their smartphone rather than the road or their rearview, a new study says.

Teen drivers spend an average of 21% of each trip looking at their phone, according to results published today in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention.

Worse, these weren’t quick glances — nearly 27% of the time, the drivers focused on their phone for two seconds or longer, a duration that dramatically increases the risk of a crash, researchers said.

Teen drivers most commonly check out their phone for entertainment (65%) or texting (40%), with 30% using the phone’s GPS to help them navigate roads, results showed.

“Distracted driving is a serious public health threat and particularly concerning among young drivers,” lead researcher Rebecca Robbins, an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said in a news release.

“Driving distracted doesn’t just put the driver at risk of injury or death, it puts everyone else on the road in danger of an accident,” Robbins added.

Across the U.S., 35 states have banned all types of phone use for young drivers, researchers said in background notes.

But a previous national study found that nearly 92% of teens still regularly engage in texting, talking or dialing in tunes on their smartphone while behind the wheel, researchers said.

For the new study, researchers quizzed more than 1,100 teenagers about their behaviors and beliefs surrounding smartphone use while driving.

Results show that many young drivers understand bad things can happen when they’re distracted, and they're aware that parents and friends wouldn’t like them to engage in distractions while operating a car.

Source: HealthDay
https://www.healthday.com/health-news/child-health/teen-drivers-spend-a-fifth-of-the-time-looking-at-their-smartphone-study-says

Colorful, 'Healthy' Branding Makes Cannabis Edibles 'Appealing' to Teens

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by Phys.org.

Bright colors, fruit imagery, and labels like "locally made" or "vegan" might seem harmless, but when used on cannabis edibles, they can send misleading messages to teens.

That's according to a new Washington State University-led study examining how adolescents perceive the packaging of cannabis-infused products such as gummies, chocolates, and sodas. Despite regulations barring packaging that targets youth, many teens in the study found these products appealing, often likening them to everyday snacks or health foods.

The research, conducted in collaboration with Public Health—Seattle & King County, is part of a broader effort to reduce accidental cannabis exposure among teens. The findings could help shape new rules aimed at limiting underage appeal.

"What surprised us was how often these products were interpreted as healthy or natural," said Jessica Willoughby, associate professor in WSU's Murrow College of Communication and co-author of the study, published in the Journal of Health Communication. "When you combine that with vibrant packaging and familiar fruit flavors, it's easy to see how these items start to look like snacks, not something potentially harmful or illegal for teens."

Researchers conducted virtual focus groups and interviews with 28 Washington teens, ages 13 to 17, using real product photos from stores to prompt discussion. With parental permission, participants shared which packaging elements caught their eye and why.

The teens consistently pointed to bright, colorful designs and packaging that resembled healthy snacks as particularly appealing. Some said they'd display the packaging in their rooms or use it in social media posts. Others said terms like "locally made" and "vegan" made the products feel more aligned with their personal values, even if they knew the items contained cannabis.

"Our findings suggest that teens are drawn not just to the look of these packages, but to what the design represents," said Stacey Hust, a professor in WSU's Murrow College and the study's lead author. "They saw these products as trendy, natural, and aspirational—qualities that resonate with their identities and beliefs."

Source: Phys.org
https://phys.org/news/2025-06-healthy-branding-cannabis-edibles-appealing.html

Nestle, Other Food Companies Vow to Ban Artificial Colors

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by HealthDay.

Nestle has joined a growing list of major food companies pledging to voluntarily eliminate artificial colors from their U.S. products by the middle of next year amid mounting health concerns.

Nestle said 90% of its U.S. products already contain no synthetic dyes. The company has been removing them from its products for the past 10 years, it said in a statement.

Nestle’s announcement dovetails with those of other major U.S. food companies.

Kraft Heinz and General Mills previously announced plans to remove artificial dyes from their U.S. products by 2027.

General Mills said it plans to remove synthetic dyes from its U.S. cereals and all foods served in K-12 schools by mid-2026, and J.M Smucker Co. said it intends to remove artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027, according to media reports.

Petroleum-based food dyes have been linked to a variety of health concerns, including allergies, cancer and behavioral changes.

They are synthetic color additives derived from crude oil and include artificial dyes such as Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and Blue No. 1.

The recent moves follow decades of scrutiny.

In January, the U.S. government banned Red No. 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after the dye was banned from cosmetics due to potential cancer risks.

Source: HealthDay
https://www.healthday.com/health-news/allergies/nestle-other-food-companies-vow-to-ban-artificial-colors

E-cigarette and Cannabis Social Media Posts Pose Risks for Teens

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedicalXpress.

Teens who see social media posts showing cannabis or e-cigarettes, including from friends and influencers, are more likely to later start using those substances or to report using them in the past month, according to surveys done by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Viewing such posts was linked to cannabis use, as well as dual use of cannabis and e-cigarettes (vapes). Dual use refers to youth who have used both cannabis and e-cigarettes at some point. The results are published in JAMA Network Open.

"While the rate of e-cigarette use is declining, our study shows that exposure to e-cigarette content on social media still contributes to the risk of using e-cigarettes with other substances, like cannabis," said Julia Vassey, MPH, a health behavior researcher in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine.

The study also helps clarify how certain types of social media posts relate to teen substance use. Researchers surveyed more than 7,600 teens across two studies: a longitudinal study to understand whether viewing cannabis or e-cigarette posts on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube relates to a teen's later choice to start using either substance or both, and a second survey looking at whether an association exists between the source of the content— friends, influencers, celebrities or brands—and substance use.

Researchers found that teens who had frequently seen e-cigarette posts on TikTok were more likely to have started using cannabis or started dual use of both cannabis and e-cigarettes. No such pattern was found for Instagram or YouTube. The data collected allowed researchers to look at platform-specific results for e-cigarette posts, but not for cannabis posts.

"This is consistent with previous research showing that, of the three platforms, TikTok is probably the strongest risk factor for substance use," Vassey said.

In the second survey, those who saw e-cigarette posts from friends were more likely to have been dual users of cannabis and e-cigarettes in the past month. Those who saw cannabis posts from friends were more likely to have used cannabis in the past month or to have been dual users of cannabis and e-cigarettes.

The link between e-cigarette posts and cannabis use is what researchers call a "cross-substance association" and may be explained by the similar appearance of nicotine and cannabis vaping devices, Vassey said.

Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-cigarette-cannabis-social-media-pose.html

What's Hot? 06/27/25

Trending Today on X - 6/27/25
 1. SCOTUS
2. Supreme Court
3. Justice Jackson
4. Harvey Milk
5. #HemiNetwork
6. #FridayVibes
7. Good Friday
8. Masai
9. #WWENOC
10. #SquidGameSeason3
Source: X 

Trending Today on Google - 6/27/25
 1. RB Salzburg - Real Madrid
2. Ana Wintour
3. Birthright Citizenship
4. Sparks vs Fever
5. Rick Hurst
6. Bill Moyers
7. Justin Tucker
8. China Flooding
9. Squid Game
10. Wander Franco
Source: Google

Top Five on Apple Music - 6/27/25
 1. What I Want - Morgan Wallen
2. Just in Case - Morgan Wallen
3. I'm the Problem - Morgan Wallen
4. Outside - Cardi B
5. Superman - Morgan Wallen
Source: Apple Music

Top Box Office Movies - Weekend of 6/20/25
1. How to Train Your Drago
2. 28 Years Later
3. Elio
4. Lilo & Stitch
5. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Source: Showtimes.com 

TV Shows Trending on Streaming Services - 6/27/25
 1. The Waterfront - Netflix
2. The Bear - Disney+
3. Love Island - Hulu
4. We Were Liars - Prime Video
5. Ironheart - Disney+
Source: Reelgood

Trending Today on YouTube - 6/27/25
 1. KARMA | Alien Stage
2. not ending until we beat Super Mario Bros
3. aespa - 'Dirty Work'
4. KATSEYE - "Gameboy"
5. Breaking 4Live - Faith Kipyegon vs. the 4-Minute Mile
Source: YouTube

Netflix Top 5 TV Shows in the U.S. Today - 6/27/25
 1. The Waterfront
2. Ginny & Georgia
3. America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
4. The Ultimatum: Queer Love
5. Sirens
Source: FlixPatrol

Teen Depression? Study Finds Clues in Screen Use and Sleep Quality

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedicalXpress.

In this digital era, both kids and adults are often glued to smartphone screens. Digital technology keeps users entertained, connected to friends, and in tune with important news. But some reports suggest that, particularly for adolescents, excessive time on these screens can be linked to mental health problems and even depression.

New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine published today in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that that association is driven by shorter sleep and worse organization of the brain white matter during this crucial adolescent phase of brain development.

"Brain white matter connections are just like highways that connect cities," said lead author Dr. João Paulo Lima Santos, M.D., research instructor in psychiatry at Pitt. "If these highways are not well-maintained, traveling from one city to another can be slow and inefficient, or even disrupted."

In the study, researchers analyzed over 1,000 surveys where teens were asked to estimate how much time they spend per day looking at screens and how long they sleep each night, on average.

Participants' brain scans revealed something intriguing: white matter connections between regions of the brain that control emotion regulation, memory and attention were weaker and more disorganized in teens who spent more time on their phone or tablet and did not get sufficient sleep—more like meandering paths through a forest than an eight-lane speedway. Those teens also had higher depression scores, suggesting that the intersection of screen time and sleep quality might hold the key to better brain function and mental health.

"Taking away all digital media is not the answer," Lima Santos cautions. "Digital media can be good—but in some situations, particularly when sleep is affected, we should be more careful and pay attention."

Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-teen-depression-clues-screen-quality.html