Albany, NY: Heavy use of alcohol in conjunction with marijuana use may increase the likelihood of an individual developing symptoms of cannabis dependence, according to survey data to be published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.
Use of alcohol and cannabis together is more often associated with greater problems for the user than the use of cannabis alone, researchers at the University of Southern California and the University of Albany concluded.
“Comorbid frequent or heavy alcohol consumption may place cannabis users at greater risk for symptoms of cannabis dependence,” authors wrote. “Recommendations for cannabis drug safety should now include limiting the consumption of alcohol in an effort to avoid cannabis dependence symptoms.”
According to the US National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, less than ten percent of cannabis users ever exhibit signs of dependence (as defined by the American Psychiatric Association¹s DSM-IV criteria). By comparison, 15 percent of alcohol drinkers, 17 percent of cocaine users, and 32 percent of cigarette smokers exhibit symptoms of drug dependence.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, “Confirming alcohol-moderated links between cannabis use and dependence in a national sample,” will appear in the forthcoming issue of Addictive Behaviors.