Using cannabis before drinking reduces interest in alcohol

A recent federally funded study suggests that the Cannabis could help some heavy drinkers reduce their consumption of’alcohol.

Conducted by’Colorado State University, the’University of Colorado at Boulder and University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, This study is described as the first to directly test the impact of the legal cannabis on alcohol consumption.

The results indicate that, for some people, cannabis can be used as a substitute for alcohol, potentially opening up new perspectives for treatment strategies. risk reduction in case of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol consumption down 25%

Published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, This study tested the impact of the consumption of Cannabis before alcohol on consumption habits. 61 adults who reported heavy drinking and regular cannabis use took part in the study.

The experimental protocol was unconventional: rather than using the university's laboratories, the scientists installed mobile laboratories outside participants' homes, as is often the case with cannabis studies (here, here or here). This solution allows volunteers to consume their own legally purchased cannabis without violating federal funding restrictions.

Each participant took part in two separate sessions. In the first, they consumed alcohol only. In the second, they first consumed cannabis before drinking. In both cases, they were given a «priming» alcoholic drink, followed by the opportunity to consume up to four additional drinks every fifteen minutes for an hour.

On average, participants consumed 25% fewer alcoholic beverages after consuming cannabis than after drinking without it. The researchers also noted a tendency for craving for alcohol to decrease during sessions involving cannabis.

«Cannabis self-administration before alcohol significantly reduced alcohol consumption compared with alcohol consumption without cannabis,» the authors reported.

Substitutes, non-substitutes and abstainers

Not all participants reacted in the same way. The researchers identified three distinct groups:

• Substitutes (23 people) drank significantly less after using cannabis, and consistently reported a reduction in alcohol cravings
• Non-substitutes (23 people) showed little or no change in their drinking or craving for alcohol
• Abstainers (15 people) completely avoided drinking during both sessions, regardless of their cannabis use

«Those who drank less after using cannabis reported a greater reduction in craving for alcohol,» explained the authors, suggesting that reduced craving could be the mechanism behind the substitution.

Promising results, but limitations remain

Although these results initially support the idea that cannabis can be used as a substitute for alcohol, the researchers warn against jumping to hasty conclusions.

One of the study's limitations is that it only examined cannabis consumption before alcohol consumption. The reverse order (drinking before consuming cannabis) was not tested, which could influence the results differently. The controlled laboratory setting, while creative, may also differ from real-life drinking environments, such as bars or social gatherings.

In addition, the sample of participants was not entirely representative, being composed mainly of white men. Future studies will need to include more diverse groups and contexts to understand the extent to which the results are broadly applicable.

A step towards risk reduction strategies

Alcohol abuse remains one of the world's leading causes of preventable death, making it crucial to find effective strategies for risk reduction. The authors suggest that studying the interaction between the cannabis and alcohol could help to develop new approaches for people who are not abstinent but wish to reduce their consumption. alcohol consumption.

«The results of this new human laboratory study provide initial support for the idea that cannabis sold on the legal market can be used as a substitute for alcohol in some people who drink heavily,» the study concludes.

The trial draws on data from previous surveys, including a study published in 2024 in The Harm Reduction Journal, which revealed that 60% of cannabis users reported drinking alcohol less often because of their cannabis use.