Cannabis-tobacco co-users have high interest in quitting tobacco but low interest in quitting cannabis
Among 282 cannabis-tobacco co-users, quit interest for tobacco averaged 7.1/10 versus only 2.4/10 for cannabis, and half reported increasing one substance when trying to quit the other.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
About 80% had tried to quit tobacco vs 40% for cannabis. Quit interest was 7.07/10 for tobacco vs 2.39/10 for cannabis. When attempting tobacco cessation, 50% perceived increased cannabis use. When attempting cannabis cessation, 62% perceived increased tobacco use. This bidirectional substitution pattern complicates treatment.
Key Numbers
282 participants; 57% female; mean age 33.3; quit interest tobacco 7.07/10, cannabis 2.39/10; 80% tried quitting tobacco, 40% tried quitting cannabis; 50% increased cannabis during tobacco quit, 62% increased tobacco during cannabis quit.
How They Did This
Two online survey samples (Amazon MTurk) combined (N=282), assessing quit interest, treatment preferences, and perceived drug substitution among adult cannabis-tobacco co-users across the US.
Why This Research Matters
Co-use of cannabis and tobacco is common but rarely addressed in treatment. The finding that people substitute one for the other during quit attempts has critical implications for how cessation programs should be designed.
The Bigger Picture
The stark difference in quit motivation (high for tobacco, low for cannabis) suggests that forcing cannabis cessation on co-users seeking tobacco treatment may be counterproductive. Harm reduction approaches that address tobacco first may be more effective.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Online convenience sample (MTurk) may not represent treatment-seeking populations. Self-reported perceived substitution, not objectively measured. Cross-sectional design.
Questions This Raises
- ?Could cannabis cessation be more effectively addressed by first achieving tobacco cessation?
- ?Would cannabis reduction (rather than cessation) goals improve engagement?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Tobacco 7.1 vs cannabis 2.4 quit interest
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: reasonable sample size with clear findings, but online convenience sample.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019.
- Original Title:
- Tobacco and cannabis co-use: Drug substitution, quit interest, and cessation preferences.
- Published In:
- Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 27(3), 265-275 (2019)
- Authors:
- McClure, Erin A(11), Tomko, Rachel L(11), Salazar, Claudia A, Akbar, Saima A, Squeglia, Lindsay M, Herrmann, Evan, Carpenter, Matthew J, Peters, Erica N
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02167
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do people increase cannabis use when trying to quit tobacco?
In this survey, 50% of co-users perceived increased cannabis use when attempting tobacco cessation, suggesting a bidirectional substitution pattern.
Should co-users try to quit both at once?
The study suggests that reduction-based strategies for cannabis may be more acceptable than cessation, especially since cannabis quit interest was very low (2.4/10).
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02167APA
McClure, Erin A; Tomko, Rachel L; Salazar, Claudia A; Akbar, Saima A; Squeglia, Lindsay M; Herrmann, Evan; Carpenter, Matthew J; Peters, Erica N. (2019). Tobacco and cannabis co-use: Drug substitution, quit interest, and cessation preferences.. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 27(3), 265-275. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000244
MLA
McClure, Erin A, et al. "Tobacco and cannabis co-use: Drug substitution, quit interest, and cessation preferences.." Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000244
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Tobacco and cannabis co-use: Drug substitution, quit interes..." RTHC-02167. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/mcclure-2019-tobacco-and-cannabis-couse
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.