ArticleHarm reduction journal2024
Exploring the substitution of cannabis for alcohol and other drugs among a large convenience sample of people who use cannabis.
Article in Harm reduction journal, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Acute Effects of Cannabis on Alcohol Craving and Consumption: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial.The American journal of psychiatry · 2026Trial
- Momentary cannabis effects on alcohol use among adults trying to quit or cut back on drinking.Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors · 2026Article
- Fusing Specialized Surveys of Rare Populations to Larger Surveys for Generalized Inference: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Cannabis administration is associated with reduced alcohol consumption: Evidence from a novel laboratory co-administration paradigm.Drug and alcohol dependence · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe substitution of cannabis for alcohol and other drugs has been conceptualised in a harm reduction framework as where cannabis is used to reduce the negative side-effects, addiction potential, and social stigma of other drugs. There is currently mixed evidence with recent reviews suggesting cannabis co-use patterns may vary by age and ethnicity. Yet few studies have had large enough samples to examine this demographic variation in detail.
aimsTo explore the co-use of cannabis with alcohol and other drugs within demographic subgroups of a large sample of people who use cannabis. Specifically: (1) whether cannabis is being substituted for other drugs, and (2), whether cannabis use leads to more, less or the same level of other drug use.
methodOnline convenience survey promoted via Facebook™ completed by 23,500 New Zealand respondents. Those who had used cannabis and any of eight other substances in the same six-month period were asked if their use of cannabis had any impact on their use of each other substance ("a lot more", "little more", "no impact/same", "little less", "a lot less"). Frequency and quantity used of each other drug was compared by co-use group. Generalised logistic regression models were developed to predict co-use categories.
resultsSignificant proportions reported cannabis use led to "less" alcohol (60%), synthetic cannabinoid (60%), morphine (44%) and methamphetamine (40%) use. Those who reported using "less" had lower frequency and amount used of other drugs. Approximately seven-out-ten reported cannabis use had "no impact" on LSD, MDMA, and cocaine use. One-in-five reported using cannabis led to "more" tobacco use. Young adults (21-35-years) were more likely to report cannabis use led to "less" drinking and methamphetamine use. Adolescent co-users (16-20 years) reported mixed impacts. Māori were more likely to report cannabis use resulted in "less" alcohol, tobacco, methamphetamine, and LSD use. Students and those living in cities were less likely to report cannabis use lowering use of other substances.
conclusionCannabis and other drug co-use patterns are moderated by life stages, lifestyles, cultural perspectives, and urbanicity. Harm reduction initiatives and policy reforms should take account of these moderating factors.
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