Increasing Cannabis Use Made It Harder to Quit Cigarettes for People With HIV | Research

The takeaway

Among 374 people with HIV trying to quit smoking, those who increased cannabis use had 78% lower odds of quitting cigarettes.

Smoking cessation counselors, HIV care providers.

78% lower odds of quitting cigarettes for those who increased cannabis use

What the researchers found

Increased cannabis use was associated with reduced odds of cigarette abstinence at 6 months vs decreased use (aOR 0.22) or no use (aOR 0.25). Cannabis non-use increased from 18.2% to 34.3% over 6 months.

Why it matters

People with HIV smoke at higher rates with lower cessation rates. If increasing cannabis undermines quit attempts, this is critical clinical information.

The numbers in context

374 participants. 198 used cannabis. Increased use: aOR 0.22 vs decreased use. Cannabis non-use rose from 18.2% to 34.3%.

How the study worked

Secondary analysis of an RCT for cigarette cessation among PWH. 374 participants reported past-30-day cannabis use across four visits.

What this study cannot tell us

Secondary analysis. Self-reported cannabis. Small subgroups. PWH population may not generalize.

How to read the evidence

Secondary analysis of an RCT with appropriate adjustment but small cannabis subgroups.

When this study was published

Published 2023, using 2016-2020 trial data.

The bigger picture

Many participants naturally reduced cannabis during their cigarette quit attempt, suggesting these behaviors may be linked.

Questions still open

Does cannabis undermine cessation through pharmacological or behavioral pathways?
Should cessation programs include cannabis assessment?

Common questions

Does cannabis make it harder to quit smoking?

In this study of PWH, those who increased cannabis had 78% lower odds of quitting cigarettes.

Did cannabis use change during quit attempts?

Yes. Non-use rose from 18% to 34%, suggesting many naturally reduced cannabis alongside cigarette quitting.

Read the original research

Co-use of cigarettes and cannabis among people with HIV: Results from a randomized controlled smoking cessation trial.

Drug and alcohol dependence reports, 7, 100172

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Ozga, Jenny E; Shuter, Jonathan; Chander, Geetanjali; Graham, Amanda L; Kim, Ryung S; Stanton, Cassandra A. (2023). Co-use of cigarettes and cannabis among people with HIV: Results from a randomized controlled smoking cessation trial.. Drug and alcohol dependence reports, 7, 100172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100172