Young Adults Who Used Marijuana Were Less Successful at Quitting Tobacco | Research

The takeaway

Among 500 young adult smokers in a tobacco cessation program, marijuana users were 44% less likely to quit smoking and 29% less likely to reduce cigarettes, despite being equally motivated and engaged in the program.

Tobacco cessation counselors, young adults who co-use marijuana and tobacco, public health professionals.

Marijuana users were 44% less likely to achieve tobacco abstinence despite equal motivation to quit and engagement in cessation programs.

What the researchers found

Marijuana use was associated with lower likelihood of tobacco abstinence (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.35-0.90) and lower likelihood of reducing smoking (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.51-0.98) over 12 months. However, marijuana use was not related to motivation to quit, engagement in the cessation program, quit attempts, or stage of change.

Why it matters

Marijuana and tobacco co-use is common in young adults. This study reveals that while marijuana users are equally motivated to quit tobacco, they are less successful - suggesting marijuana use creates a specific barrier to tobacco cessation that current programs do not adequately address.

The numbers in context

500 young adults, ages 18-25. Marijuana users: 44% less likely to abstain from tobacco (OR 0.56). 29% less likely to reduce smoking (OR 0.71). No difference in motivation, engagement, or quit attempts.

How the study worked

500 young adult smokers (18-25) enrolled in a 3-month Facebook-based smoking cessation intervention. Marijuana use and smoking behaviors were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months.

What this study cannot tell us

Observational within a trial setting. Self-reported marijuana and tobacco use. Facebook-based intervention may not represent other cessation approaches. Cannot determine why marijuana use reduces cessation success.

How to read the evidence

Moderate - longitudinal analysis with 12-month follow-up within an RCT framework, with appropriate statistical controls.

When this study was published

Published in 2018.

The bigger picture

The disconnect between equal motivation and lower success suggests marijuana use may undermine tobacco cessation through behavioral or pharmacological mechanisms rather than motivational ones. Tobacco cessation programs for young adults may need specific strategies for co-users.

Questions still open

Does the act of smoking marijuana trigger tobacco cravings? Would concurrent marijuana cessation improve tobacco quit rates? Should cessation programs address both substances simultaneously?

Common questions

Does marijuana use make it harder to quit tobacco?

This study of 500 young adults found that marijuana users were 44% less likely to quit smoking despite being equally motivated and engaged in a cessation program. The researchers suggest tobacco cessation programs may need specific strategies for marijuana co-users.

Should I quit marijuana and tobacco at the same time?

This study found marijuana use was a barrier to tobacco cessation specifically. While it did not test simultaneous cessation, the findings suggest that addressing both substances together might improve quit rates.

Read the original research

Associations between marijuana use and tobacco cessation outcomes in young adults.

Journal of substance abuse treatment, 94, 69-73

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Vogel, Erin A; Rubinstein, Mark L; Prochaska, Judith J; Ramo, Danielle E. (2018). Associations between marijuana use and tobacco cessation outcomes in young adults.. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 94, 69-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2018.08.010