Grant Details
Grant Number: |
5R01CA276066-02 Interpret this number |
Primary Investigator: |
Mcclure, Erin |
Organization: |
Medical University Of South Carolina |
Project Title: |
The Impact of Cannabis and Tobacco/Nicotine Product CO-Use in Young Adults: Prospective Cessation Evaluation and Substitution |
Fiscal Year: |
2024 |
Abstract
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The co-use of nicotine/tobacco products and cannabis among young adults is prevalent and varies widely in
terms of patterns and products of use. Nicotine-cannabis co-use among this age group may adversely affect
treatment and other clinical outcomes, yet little is known regarding the underlying relationship between nicotine
and cannabis and the resulting treatment implications, particularly during an attempt to quit or reduce use of one
or both substances. Prior literature on the treatment implications of co-use, including results from our group,
suggest that cannabis serves as an obstacle to nicotine cessation for a sub-set who use both products, though
the literature is mixed. Past studies also suffer from important limitations, resulting in critical gaps in our
understanding, with only 2 secondary analyses published from youth tobacco trials on the impact of co-use. To
date, there are no prospective studies that have examined the treatment implications of nicotine-cannabis co-
use or the underlying relationship between substances among young adults when engaged in a quit attempt.
[[[Therefore, the overall goal of this project is to characterize and evaluate the underlying relationship between
nicotine/tobacco and cannabis and its impact on nicotine cessation through a behavioral economics framework.
This study will determine how impactful cannabis co-use may be on nicotine cessation and which individuals
who co-use experience greater difficulty achieving cessation. To accomplish this goal, we propose a completely
remote, prospective, 12-week nicotine cessation trial among young adults (ages 18-25; N=350) from across the
United States who use nicotine (vaping, cigarettes or both) and cannabis products regularly. We will leverage
our ongoing collaboration with DynamiCare Health to administer remote contingency management (CM) as the
nicotine/tobacco treatment intervention, while cannabis use will not be addressed. Biochemical verification
(through oral fluid samples) and self-reports (mobile daily diaries) of substance use will be collected. The aims
of this proposed study are to: 1) evaluate the impact of behavioral economically derived measures of substance
substitutability on end of treatment nicotine abstinence (Aim 1); 2) determine if treatment-induced nicotine
abstinence, reduction, and/or withdrawal (a) is associated with co-occurring changes in cannabis demand and
use and (b) if substance substitutability modifies this relationship (Aim 2); and 3) assess the reciprocal
prospective relationship between patterns of nicotine and cannabis use during nicotine treatment (Aim 3).
Evaluating nicotine-cannabis co-use as part of a prospective treatment study through a behavioral economics
framework has never been conducted and will be important to informing the literature regarding individual co-
use pattern differences, compensatory cannabis use, and treatment success.]]] Nicotine cessation treatment in
young adults is a growing body of work and the role of cannabis co-use, and results from the proposed study,
will inform clinical care and guide tailored treatment recommendations to promote successful and sustained
abstinence.
Publications
Urgent need for treatment addressing co-use of tobacco and cannabis: An updated review and considerations for future interventions.
Authors: Nguyen N.
, Bold K.W.
, McClure E.A.
.
Source: Addictive Behaviors, 2024 Nov; 158, p. 108118.
EPub date: 2024-07-21 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 39089194
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