The number of Americans using both cannabis and tobacco is increasing, with a particular surge among older adults, according to a new study by researchers at Duke University School of Medicine and Duke CTSI who analyzed two decades of national data. Their findings show that combined use of cannabis and tobacco poses greater health risks than using either substance alone.
Before the Duke analysis, which was published in Addictive Behaviors, the most recent report on trends in tobacco use, cannabis use, and co-use relied on national data from 2003-2012. Since that time, 24 states have lifted restrictions on marijuana use.
“Trends in cannabis and tobacco co-use prevalence have not been examined in many years while regulatory policy has been changing quite a bit,” said lead study author Dana Rubenstein, a medical student who entered the Duke CTSA TL1 Pre-Doctoral Training Program with an interest in health equity and tobacco use research.
Co-authors of the study include CTSI Associate Director Joseph McClernon, PhD. McClernon served as Rubenstein's mentor in the TL1 program.
Read the School of Medicine article and the journal publication.