Cannabis could help those seeking to wean themselves off alcohol

Is cannabis a gateway drug or a gateway drug? The debate started a long time ago. When it comes to drug addiction, cannabis consumption is now seen as a substitute for more dangerous substances. A new study now supports the idea that cannabis use is linked to reduced alcohol consumption in alcoholics.

The study, entitled «Effects of cannabis use on alcohol consumption in a sample of heavy drinkers engaged in treatment in Colorado,» and published in the journal Addiction was conducted by the University of Colorado at Boulder and the Colorado State University.  »

«Cannabis is commonly used among people who drink alcohol, but the evidence suggests a nuanced relationship between alcohol consumption and cannabis use.», explains the study. «We aimed to test the effects of cannabis use during the day on total drinks consumed and the likelihood of binge drinking on a given day in all participants and to compare these relationships between men and women and between people who reported infrequent and frequent cannabis use.»

Cannabis and alcohol use by people undergoing treatment

The study examined 96 different people who used cannabis and were also enrolled in an alcohol treatment program. The researchers found that on days when the people surveyed used cannabis, they consumed less alcohol. The trend was present whether the person was a light cannabis user or a heavy user. If they consumed cannabis, they tended to consume less alcohol.

«In the sample, individuals drank approximately 29% fewer drinks and were 2.06 times less likely to have an episode of binge drinking on days when cannabis was consumed compared to days when cannabis was not consumed,» according to the study. «These trends were observed in men, women and infrequent and frequent cannabis use groups.»

«Heavy drinkers undergoing treatment to reduce their alcohol consumption who also use cannabis appear to increase their cannabis use on days when they reduce their alcohol consumption,» they continued.

The same research team reported similar results in 2020, which they presented at the Research Society on Alcoholism for a closer look. In addition, to further support their findings, statewide trend data shows that alcohol sales tend to decline in areas where cannabis has become legal. Another study conducted and published by Harvard researchers last month showed that when young people are forced to abstain from cannabis, they are more likely to drink alcohol.

Although further research is still needed, these data could support the idea of testing new cannabis-based treatments as a way out of hard drug use.