A group cessation program helped people quit both cannabis and tobacco at the same time
A group-based program using motivational interviewing and CBT achieved 23% abstinence from cigarettes, cannabis, or both at 6-month follow-up among 77 co-smokers.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers tested a group cessation program for people who used both cannabis weekly and tobacco daily. The program ran five to six sessions using motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and self-control training. Of 77 participants, 62.3% completed treatment.
At the end of treatment, 41.5% reported abstinence from cigarettes, cannabis, or both. At 6-month follow-up, 23.4% maintained abstinence from at least one substance. Individual rates at follow-up were 10.4% for cigarettes and 19.5% for cannabis. Dual abstinence validated by biochemical testing was achieved by 5.2% at follow-up.
Participants also showed improvements in depression, anxiety, drinking problems, cannabis use disorder symptoms, and nicotine dependence over the study period. Only three participants discontinued due to severe side effects.
Key Numbers
77 participants enrolled. Target sample recruited within 9 months. 62.3% treatment retention. 41.5% abstinent from at least one substance post-treatment. 23.4% abstinent at 6-month follow-up. 5.2% achieved validated dual abstinence at follow-up.
How They Did This
Open-label feasibility study using a repeated-measures design with pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up assessments. The intervention included 5-6 group sessions based on motivational interviewing, CBT, and self-control training for 77 adults who smoked cannabis weekly and tobacco daily.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis and tobacco are frequently used together, but most cessation programs target only one substance. This study demonstrated that addressing both simultaneously is feasible, with acceptable retention rates and mental health improvements, supporting the case for larger controlled trials.
The Bigger Picture
Many cannabis users also smoke tobacco, and the two habits reinforce each other. Programs that address both substances together could be more effective than treating them separately, but this approach needs validation through randomized controlled trials.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
No control group, so improvements cannot be attributed specifically to the intervention. Self-reported abstinence was only partially validated biochemically. The sample was self-selected, which likely overestimates treatment effects compared to the general population.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would a randomized controlled trial confirm these results?
- ?Is addressing both substances simultaneously more effective than sequential approaches?
- ?Which component of the intervention (MI, CBT, or self-control training) contributed most?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 23.4% abstinent from at least one substance at 6-month follow-up
- Evidence Grade:
- Feasibility study without a control group. Results are promising but need confirmation through a randomized controlled trial.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2015. Subsequent RCTs may have tested similar dual-cessation approaches.
- Original Title:
- Feasibility of a group cessation program for co-smokers of cannabis and tobacco.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol review, 34(4), 418-26 (2015)
- Authors:
- Becker, Julia(3), Haug, Severin(4), Kraemer, Thomas, Schaub, Michael P
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00912
Evidence Hierarchy
A small preliminary study to test whether a larger study is feasible.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can you quit cannabis and tobacco at the same time?
This study suggests it is feasible. A group program achieved 23% abstinence from at least one substance at 6 months, and participants showed mental health improvements. But the study lacked a control group.
What techniques did the program use?
The program combined motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and self-control training in 5-6 group sessions, addressing both cannabis and tobacco use simultaneously.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00912APA
Becker, Julia; Haug, Severin; Kraemer, Thomas; Schaub, Michael P. (2015). Feasibility of a group cessation program for co-smokers of cannabis and tobacco.. Drug and alcohol review, 34(4), 418-26. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.12244
MLA
Becker, Julia, et al. "Feasibility of a group cessation program for co-smokers of cannabis and tobacco.." Drug and alcohol review, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.12244
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Feasibility of a group cessation program for co-smokers of c..." RTHC-00912. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/becker-2015-feasibility-of-a-group
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.