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Concurrent Use of Tobacco and Cannabis Cannabis, by Increasing the Rate of Refers to Tobacco That Is Added to Cannabis

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Concurrent Use of Tobacco and Cannabis Cannabis, by Increasing the Rate of Refers to Tobacco That Is Added to Cannabis TOBACCO, VAPING & CANNABIS INFORMATION SERIES Figure 1. Past-year Cannabis Use Rates Concurrent use of among Canadian and Albertan Populations, Aged 15 and Older. Tobacco and Cannabis 16.0% 14.8% Cannabis for consumption is produced in 14.0% 12.3% several forms, such as leaves, hash, oils and 15.0% 12.0% 10.6% other extracts. In addition to being smoked, it 10.0% 11.0% can be vaporized, ingested or applied 8.0% 9.1% topically. While commonly also referred to as 6.0% marijuana, there are many different colloquial 4.0% names used including weed, pot, dope, 2.0% chronic, kush and ganja. 0.0% 2013 2015 2017 Canada Alberta Prevalence Data source: Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey The Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs cigarette smokers (aged 15+) in Canada Survey (CTADS), 2017, showed that 14.8% of reported using cannabis at least weekly in Canadians had used cannabis in the past 2017, compared with just 3.5% of those who year; a rate that has steadily demonstrated do not smoke cigarettes.2 In Alberta, those increases since 2013.1 Similarly, in Alberta, with a current smoking status were over four the 2017 rate is 15%, a 4% increase since times more likely to report using cannabis at 2015, and a 5.9% increase since 2013 (See least weekly than those who do not smoke.3 Figure 1). While the at least weekly cannabis use rate The prevalence of cannabis use demonstrates among Albertan current smokers is lower than associations with current cigarette smoking the national rates, the 2017 data showed status. For example, 21.4% of current Tobacco, Vaping and Cannabis Program/June 2021 TOBACCO AND CANNABIS | 2 a steep rise of almost 6% from 2015, joints (“mulling”) or smoked directly after although nationally large increases were not cannabis (“chasing”).5 noted (See Figure 2) 3,4. Figure 3. Prevalence of Ever Used/Tried Figure 2. Prevalence of At Least Weekly Cannabis Use Among Current and Non- Cannabis Use Among Current and Non- Smokers Aged 15+, 2015 and 2017. Smokers Aged 15+, 2015 and 2017. Another rising and concerning trend notable Methods of Consumption in Alberta is the rate of ever use of cannabis There are several ways in which people among current smokers, which showed an combine cannabis use with tobacco such as increase of almost 10% between 2015 and blunts, spliffs or chasers (see Figure 4). 2017, although comparable national rates Newer methods are also emerging with the remain largely unchanged (see Figure 3)3,4. rise in the popularity of vapour products, such Previous research indicates that among as combining cannabis oils with the e-juice tobacco users, cannabis is in fact the most for use in electronic cigarettes. Such methods frequently co-used drug, with rates up to are concerning and should be strongly three times higher than co-use with other discouraged due to their experimental nature substances such as alcohol, cocaine, and potential for combination with nicotine. stimulants or hallucinogens.5 It is, therefore, Among the reasons for dual use of tobacco generally suggested that tobacco and and cannabis are perceptions of economic cannabis may have properties that increase advantage, as tobacco has been shown to their likelihood of being used together.6 The boost the high that comes with using concurrent use of tobacco and cannabis cannabis, by increasing the rate of refers to tobacco that is added to cannabis Tobacco, Vaping and Cannabis Program/June 2021 TOBACCO AND CANNABIS | 3 Figure 4. Methods of Combining Cannabis cannabis users having been current with Tobacco. cigarettes smokers at some point in their lives.5,9 In Alberta, 51.6% of those who report using cannabis at least weekly, are also current cigarette smokers.3 In comparison, Blunts Spliffs Chasers only 14.5% of Albertans who report no • Hollowed-out cigars filled • cannabis use in the past year are current • Tobacco Switched 3 with cannabis. added to between cigarette smokers. • Tightly rolled cannabis cannabis and bundles of “joints” inside a tobacco Broadly however, examinations of general dried and rolling paper cigarette, or health measures and respiratory symptoms fermented (similar to using one have shown a pattern whereby those who immediately tobacco hand-rolled smoke tobacco and cannabis (whether by leaves, filled cigarettes. after the with cannabis. other. mulling or chasing) demonstrate decreased overall health and increased respiratory symptoms compared with controls or vaporization efficiency when THC is inhaled, cannabis-only groups.10 Reports also by as much as 45%.7 Dual use is also said to suggest that the combined use of cannabis not only foster a physical dependence to and tobacco has greater compromising effects on psychosocial health, cannabis use nicotine, but also involves a sensory disorders and continued cannabis use.9 component (i.e. inhalation, holding a cigarette or joint, or associated tastes).8 For youth and young adults, using both cannabis and tobacco is associated with a Health Effects greater risk of becoming addicted to nicotine, while regular cannabis use has also been While the adverse effects of smoking tobacco associated with reduced motivation to quit products is well established, the specific tobacco.11,12,13 Among those who develop combined effect of smoking tobacco and nicotine dependence, cannabis cessation cannabis is less clear. Studies have may also become more difficult as this previously demonstrated that smoking both dependence may drive cannabis tobacco and cannabis increases the risk for consumption, particularly among those who chronic obstructive pulmonary disease do not smoke tobacco alone.9 Those who (COPD) and potentially increases the risk for use cannabis and tobacco together are also emphysema, compared with smoking 9,10 at greater risk of developing other risky cannabis alone. behaviour, such as alcohol and other drug use, mental-health difficulties and other However, a challenge that remains with research delineating health outcomes of neurocognitive ‘cannabis-only’ smoking and concurrent Intervention/Treatment smoking of cannabis and tobacco, is that large samples are needed to identify a cohort Tobacco/tobacco-like product interventions of of people who use cannabis but have never all levels are an opportunity to assess a smoked cigarettes. Epidemiological research person’s cannabis use. It is important that has demonstrated rates as high as 90% of health-care practitioners make all of their Tobacco, Vaping and Cannabis Program/June 2021 TOBACCO AND CANNABIS | 4 clients aware of the health risks that “gateway hypothesis” between cannabis and accompany combining tobacco and other drugs, a relationship between tobacco cannabis.14 and cannabis has been widely documented. Much of the evidence suggests that tobacco The development of effective treatment use contributes to an increased likelihood of strategies for the dual use of tobacco and becoming cannabis dependent and similarly cannabis is said to be dependent on cannabis use promotes transition to more determining and understanding the intensive tobacco use.5,17,18 interdependence of the use and cessation of each substance. There are a number of Figure 5 illustrates the interdependencies of mechanisms that underlie dual use including the aforementioned mechanisms and the vulnerabilities to addiction (e.g. genetics, unique importance of accounting for the use environmental and economic factors), of both tobacco and cannabis, when planning treatment for chronic or problematic use of reinforcement of positive effects, one substance or the other. Interventions that compensation for adverse effects (e.g. address the use of tobacco exclusively, are reducing withdrawal, improving said to be less effective for those who also concentration) and the common route of consume cannabis due to the balancing administration (i.e. inhalation) and its effects of reinforcement and compensation; 5,16 associated health related-harms. Although whereby cessation of one substance may 19 there is inconclusive evidence surrounding a result in the increased use of the other. Figure 5. Interdependence of the Mechanisms of the Concurrent Use of Tobacco and Cannabis Tobacco, Vaping and Cannabis Program/June 2021 TOBACCO AND CANNABIS | 5 Longitudinal observational studies have also consume cannabis; in particular, for an demonstrated that those who smoked individual’s respiratory health.9,21,22 tobacco products, as well as consuming cannabis, made fewer quit attempts.19 Specific practices such as breath-holding and Despite such evidence, combined treatment deep inhalation increases the intake of approaches are limited and research hazardous byproducts, and this effect is said stresses the need to develop and evaluate to be amplified by simultaneously smoking combined interventions for concurrent users cannabis and tobacco.22 of tobacco and cannabis, in order to improve cessation outcomes.16 If smoked, the lower-risk guidelines outline that avoiding breath-holding and deep Integrated cessation approaches are already inhalation practices may mitigate some of incorporated, with successful outcomes, in the detrimental effects to lung health.21,22 other co-occurring use disorders such as Although not risk free, non-smoking options, tobacco and alcohol.20 Possible explanations such as vaping or edibles are said to be offered for the gap in available integrated safer for adults.22 treatment approaches for tobacco and cannabis include the long-standing Communication of these recommendations differences in legal statuses or perhaps the are important in patient/client
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