Marijuana use nearly doubled among former cigarette smokers in the US between 2002 and 2016
Among former US cigarette smokers, past-year marijuana use nearly doubled from 5.35% to 10.09% between 2002 and 2016, while depression and binge drinking also increased, raising concerns about smoking relapse risk.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among former smokers, past-year marijuana use rose from 5.35% to 10.09% (2002-2016), depression increased from 4.88% to 6.04% (2005-2016), and binge alcohol use rose from 17.22% to 22.33% (2002-2016). All trends were statistically significant. Alcohol abuse/dependence did not change.
Key Numbers
Marijuana use: 5.35% to 10.09% (OR per year 1.08). Depression: 4.88% to 6.04% (OR 1.01). Binge drinking: 17.22% to 22.33% (OR 1.03). All p<0.05. Nationally representative data.
How They Did This
Analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a nationally representative annual cross-sectional survey. Adults 18+ who smoked 100+ lifetime cigarettes but no past-year cigarettes. 2002-2016 data.
Why This Research Matters
Former smokers now outnumber current smokers in the US. Rising marijuana use, depression, and binge drinking in this population threaten sustained cigarette abstinence, potentially undermining decades of tobacco control progress.
The Bigger Picture
As marijuana legalization expands and cigarette smoking declines, the population of former smokers who use marijuana is growing rapidly. Whether marijuana use undermines cigarette cessation or represents a less harmful substitution is a critical public health question.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional surveys cannot track individuals over time. Self-reported data. Cannot determine whether marijuana use preceded or followed smoking cessation. Cannabis product types and potency not assessed.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does marijuana use increase cigarette relapse risk?
- ?Is marijuana substitution for cigarettes net-positive or net-negative for health?
- ?Should smoking cessation programs address marijuana use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 5.35% to 10.09% marijuana use
- Evidence Grade:
- Rated strong because this uses nationally representative data over 14 years with consistent methodology.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019 covering 2002-2016 NSDUH data.
- Original Title:
- Increasing Depression and Substance Use Among Former Smokers in the United States, 2002-2016.
- Published In:
- American journal of preventive medicine, 57(4), 429-437 (2019)
- Authors:
- Cheslack-Postava, Keely(3), Wall, Melanie M(16), Weinberger, Andrea H(7), Goodwin, Renee D
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01982
Evidence Hierarchy
Follows a group of people over time to track how outcomes develop.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are former smokers using more marijuana?
Yes. Past-year marijuana use nearly doubled among former US cigarette smokers from 5.35% in 2002 to 10.09% in 2016.
Does marijuana use threaten smoking cessation?
The study raises this concern. Depression and substance use are known risk factors for smoking relapse, and all three increased among former smokers during the study period.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01982APA
Cheslack-Postava, Keely; Wall, Melanie M; Weinberger, Andrea H; Goodwin, Renee D. (2019). Increasing Depression and Substance Use Among Former Smokers in the United States, 2002-2016.. American journal of preventive medicine, 57(4), 429-437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2019.05.014
MLA
Cheslack-Postava, Keely, et al. "Increasing Depression and Substance Use Among Former Smokers in the United States, 2002-2016.." American journal of preventive medicine, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2019.05.014
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Increasing Depression and Substance Use Among Former Smokers..." RTHC-01982. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/cheslack-postava-2019-increasing-depression-and-substance
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.