Frequent marijuana use reduced the odds of attempting to quit cigarettes, especially in boys | Research

The takeaway

Adolescent smokers who used marijuana frequently were 44% less likely to have attempted quitting cigarettes, with the effect stronger in boys than girls.

Read this if you want to understand how marijuana use relates to attempts to quit smoking, especially in teenagers.

44% lower odds of a quit attempt in frequent marijuana users; 59% lower in boys

What the researchers found

Among 804 adolescent cigarette smokers, researchers examined whether marijuana and alcohol use frequency predicted having ever attempted to quit smoking. Higher-frequency marijuana use (more than 6 times in the past 30 days) was associated with 44% lower odds of having made a cigarette quit attempt.

A significant gender interaction emerged: the association was driven primarily by boys (59% lower odds, AOR = 0.41) rather than girls (29% lower odds, not statistically significant, AOR = 0.71). Frequent binge drinking (more than 5 days in the past month) was also associated with 51% lower odds of a quit attempt.

The findings suggest that adolescents with heavier substance use patterns may face additional barriers to initiating smoking cessation.

Why it matters

Adolescent smoking cessation is a public health priority. If frequent marijuana use reduces the likelihood of even attempting to quit cigarettes, it identifies a subgroup that may need additional support. The gender difference suggests that intervention approaches may need to be tailored.

The numbers in context

804 adolescent smokers. Higher-frequency marijuana use: AOR = 0.56 (95% CI: 0.36-0.86). Boys specifically: AOR = 0.41 (95% CI: 0.22-0.77). Frequent binge drinking: AOR = 0.49 (95% CI: 0.29-0.83). Gender interaction P = .03.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional analysis of survey data from high-school-aged adolescents. Current cigarette smokers (n=804) were classified by quit attempt history. Logistic regression models examined associations between marijuana/alcohol use frequency and history of cigarette quit attempts, testing for gender interactions.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation. Self-reported quit attempts may not accurately reflect actual cessation behavior. The study defined quit attempts broadly ("ever tried to stop smoking"). Higher-frequency substance users may simply have less interest in health behavior changes overall.

How to read the evidence

Adequately powered cross-sectional study with gender interaction analysis, though unable to establish causation.

When this study was published

Published in 2014.

The bigger picture

The intersection of marijuana use and tobacco cessation is clinically important because the two substances are often co-used. If marijuana use reduces motivation to quit tobacco, addressing both substances simultaneously may be necessary for effective cessation programs targeting adolescents.

Questions still open

Does marijuana use causally reduce quit motivation, or does it simply co-occur with lower health motivation? Would addressing marijuana use first improve cigarette cessation rates? Why was the association stronger in boys?

Common questions

Does marijuana use make it harder to quit cigarettes?

This study found that adolescent smokers who used marijuana frequently were significantly less likely to have even attempted quitting cigarettes. The effect was strongest in boys (59% lower odds of a quit attempt).

Why might marijuana use reduce quit attempts?

The study did not determine the mechanism, but possibilities include shared reinforcement pathways, lower overall health motivation among polysubstance users, or the common practice of mixing tobacco and cannabis that makes quitting one substance harder without quitting both.

Read the original research

Marijuana and alcohol use and attempted smoking cessation in adolescent boys and girls.

Substance abuse, 35(4), 381-6

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Camenga, Deepa R; Kong, Grace; Bagot, Kara; Hoff, Rani A; Potenza, Marc N; Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra. (2014). Marijuana and alcohol use and attempted smoking cessation in adolescent boys and girls.. Substance abuse, 35(4), 381-6. https://doi.org/10.1080/08897077.2014.958207