Two-thirds of NYC public housing residents reported secondhand marijuana smoke exposure
In New York City subsidized housing, 67% of residents reported smelling marijuana smoke in their homes over the past year, exceeding cigarette smoke exposure (60%), with nearly two-thirds perceiving secondhand marijuana smoke as harmful.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
67% of residents reported smelling marijuana smoke in their home over the past year, compared to 60% for cigarette smoke. Smoking status and smelling secondhand tobacco smoke were both strong predictors of smelling secondhand marijuana smoke. Nearly two-thirds of residents perceived smoking marijuana and secondhand marijuana smoke as harmful to health.
Key Numbers
1,030 participants from 21 buildings. Response rates: 35% NYCHA, 32% Section 8. 67% smelled marijuana smoke. 60% smelled cigarette smoke. ~2/3 perceived secondhand marijuana smoke as harmful.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional survey of residents in 21 subsidized housing buildings in NYC: 10 NYCHA buildings (n=559) and 11 Section 8 buildings (n=471). Surveys collected April-November 2018, prior to smoke-free housing policy implementation.
Why This Research Matters
As marijuana use increases, secondhand exposure in shared housing environments becomes a growing concern, particularly as smoke-free policies may not address marijuana smoke.
The Bigger Picture
Smoke-free housing policies being implemented in public housing authorities target cigarette smoke but may not explicitly cover marijuana smoke, creating a regulatory gap.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported exposure (smelling smoke, not biomarker-verified). Low response rates (32-35%). NYC housing may not represent other settings. Cross-sectional design.
Questions This Raises
- ?Should smoke-free housing policies explicitly include marijuana?
- ?Would edible or vaporized cannabis reduce secondhand exposure in multi-unit housing?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 67% reported secondhand marijuana smoke at home
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional survey with self-reported exposure and moderate response rates.
- Study Age:
- 2020 study using 2018 survey data.
- Original Title:
- Self-reported Secondhand Marijuana Smoke (SHMS) Exposure in Two New York City (NYC) Subsidized Housing Settings, 2018: NYC Housing Authority and Lower-Income Private Sector Buildings.
- Published In:
- Journal of community health, 45(3), 635-639 (2020)
- Authors:
- Anastasiou, Elle, Chennareddy, Sumanth, Wyka, Katarzyna(3), Shelley, Donna, Thorpe, Lorna E
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02384
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is secondhand marijuana smoke common in apartments?
In this NYC survey, 67% of subsidized housing residents reported smelling marijuana smoke in their homes over the past year, a higher rate than cigarette smoke (60%).
Do people think secondhand marijuana smoke is harmful?
Nearly two-thirds of residents surveyed perceived smoking marijuana and smelling secondhand marijuana smoke as harmful to health.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02384APA
Anastasiou, Elle; Chennareddy, Sumanth; Wyka, Katarzyna; Shelley, Donna; Thorpe, Lorna E. (2020). Self-reported Secondhand Marijuana Smoke (SHMS) Exposure in Two New York City (NYC) Subsidized Housing Settings, 2018: NYC Housing Authority and Lower-Income Private Sector Buildings.. Journal of community health, 45(3), 635-639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-019-00783-x
MLA
Anastasiou, Elle, et al. "Self-reported Secondhand Marijuana Smoke (SHMS) Exposure in Two New York City (NYC) Subsidized Housing Settings, 2018: NYC Housing Authority and Lower-Income Private Sector Buildings.." Journal of community health, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-019-00783-x
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Self-reported Secondhand Marijuana Smoke (SHMS) Exposure in ..." RTHC-02384. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/anastasiou-2020-selfreported-secondhand-marijuana-smoke
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.