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The proportion of Americans who use both tobacco and marijuana has been gradually increasing, particularly among older persons, according to a recent study. After analyzing national data spanning 20 years, Duke University School of Medicine researchers caution that combining both drugs can increase the risk to one’s health when compared to using either drug alone.
A reported 6.38% of American adults in 2021 reported using tobacco and marijuana together within the previous month. While this proportion might not seem like much, it is a considerable rise over prior years. The researchers credit this increase to the growing legalization of marijuana in a number of states, which has increased social acceptance and familiarity with cannabis use.
Lead author of the study, Dana Rubenstein, a Duke University researcher and fourth-year medical student, pointed out that the data from 2021 indicates some groups are more likely to utilize both drugs. Co-using tobacco and cannabis was more common among younger adults, those with less education and residents of states that legalized medical cannabis.
Prior research analyzing the patterns of tobacco and cannabis use, separately or in combination, concentrated on data from 2003 to 2012. But in the intervening period, marijuana laws have been relaxed in 24 more states. Most Americans now reside in places where marijuana use for recreational purposes is legal.
The study reviewed data from 708,891 adults surveyed between 2002 and 2021 through the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Key findings showed that the co-use of tobacco and marijuana steadily rose between 2002 and 2019. Exclusive marijuana use began increasing after 2007, while tobacco use on its own declined during that period.
Interestingly, while most demographic groups experienced an increase in co-use of these substances, young individuals (18 to 25 years of age) went against this trend, with co-use rates falling after 2014. Rubenstein suggests this decline may be due to fewer young adults choosing to use tobacco over the past 20 years.
In contrast, older adults have shown the opposite pattern, with a notable rise in co-use. The most striking increase was observed among adults aged 50 years and above, where co-use jumped from just 0.42% in 2002 to 3.1% in 2019. Among those aged between 26 and 34, the co-use rate nearly doubled from 6.15% to 10.3%. Similarly, those aged between 35 and 49 saw a stable period between 2002 and 2009, followed by a significant uptick, reaching 6.6% in 2019.
The coauthors of the study, Drs. Lauren R. Pacek and F. Joseph McClernon, who were both formerly employed by Duke University, emphasize the significance of developing focused programs to help individuals stop using both drugs. They also note how important it is to distinguish between the purposes of marijuana use — whether they be recreational or medical — and how this affects co-use with tobacco products.
Leading marijuana companies such as Tilray Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) (TSX: TLRY) are likely to delve deeper into the findings of this study in order to tease out any insights that could be beneficial as the companies make strategic plans for the future.
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