According to a study published in Nature Mental Health, there could be links between co-using cannabis and tobacco and developing disorders such as schizophrenia, among individuals who are considered high risk. Co-use, otherwise known as using two or more substances at the same time, has not been extensively studied by researchers.
A recent study conducted at Vanderbilt Health aimed to approach this gap. Led by Heather Ward, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of neuromodulation research at Vanderbilt Health, researchers examined data from the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS), a group of organizations that concentrates on youth who are at risk for psychosis.
“The prevalence of cannabis and tobacco use, known as ‘co-use,’ has been rising in the general population for the past several decades, while exclusive tobacco use has declined and exclusive cannabis use has been on the rise,” Ward said in a recent press release. “However, little is known about cannabis and tobacco co-use in adolescents at risk for psychosis.”
According to the study, there were no links to regular use of cannabis and tobacco with anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. Instead, patterns were noticed over time. Individuals who consumed cannabis consistently, along with moderate use of tobacco, were more likely to develop psychosis than those who don’t consume either substance.
“Smoking tobacco and cannabis together increases absorption of THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. It is possible that co-use itself is contributing to the development of psychosis. However, it is also possible that the people who are going to develop psychosis anyway have an underlying predisposition to using both cannabis and tobacco,” Ward continued.
Following this study, researchers hope to assess if developing psychotic disorders are affected by quitting tobacco and cannabis.