Cigarette smoking among marijuana users in the United States

Subst Abus. 2004 Jun;25(2):35-43. doi: 10.1300/j465v25n02_06.

Abstract

The vast majority of drug users smoke cigarettes. Most use marijuana and no other illicit drug. We analyzed adult responses to the 1997 NHSDA (n = 16,661) to explore relationships between marijuana use and cigarette smoking. Multivariate analyses controlled for other illicit drug use and other potential covariates. Nearly three-quarters of current marijuana users (74%) smoked cigarettes. Compared to nonusers, the adjusted odds of being a smoker were 5.43 for current marijuana users, 3.58 for past year marijuana users, and 2.02 for former marijuana users. Odds for cigarette smoking among current poly-drug users, compared to nonusers, were 2.3 to 1. Level of cigarette smoking was directly associated with frequency of marijuana use. Nationwide, an estimated 7 million adults smoke both substances and are at increased risk for respiratory illnesses and mortality. Cigarette smoking is a major co-morbidity of marijuana use and smoking cessation should be addressed among marijuana users in addition to their other illicit drug involvement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Alcoholism / rehabilitation
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / rehabilitation
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs
  • Male
  • Marijuana Abuse / epidemiology*
  • Marijuana Abuse / rehabilitation
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Odds Ratio
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Smoking Prevention
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs