Prevalence, correlates, and trends in tobacco use and cessation among current, former, and never adult marijuana users with a history of tobacco use, 2005-2014

- The impact of marijuana use on tobacco cessation has been unclear.
- We assessed national representative data from U.S. adults ever tobacco users.
- Data suggest an association between marijuana use and continued tobacco use (vs. cessation).

BackgroundApproximately 70% of current (past 30-day) adult marijuana users are current tobacco users, which may complicate tobacco cessation. We assessed prevalence and trends in tobacco cessation among adult ever tobacco users, by marijuana use status.MethodsData came from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a cross-sectional, nationally representative, household survey of U.S. civilians. Analyses included current, former, and never marijuana users aged ≥ 18 reporting ever tobacco use (cigarette, cigar, chew/snuff). We computed weighted estimates (2013-2014) of current tobacco use, recent tobacco cessation (quit 30 days to 12 months), and sustained tobacco cessation (quit > 12 months) and adjusted trends in tobacco use and cessation (2005-2014) by marijuana use status. We also assessed the association between marijuana and tobacco use status.ResultsIn 2013-2014, among current adult marijuana users reporting ever tobacco use, 69.1% were current tobacco users (vs. 38.5% of former marijuana users, p < 0.0001, and 28.2% of never marijuana users, p < 0.0001); 9.1% reported recent tobacco cessation (vs. 8.4% of former marijuana users, p < 0.01, and 6.3% of never marijuana users, p < 0.001), and 21.8% reported sustained tobacco cessation (vs. 53.1% of former marijuana users, p < 0.01, and 65.5% of never marijuana users, p < 0.0001). Between 2005 and 2014, current tobacco use declined and sustained tobacco cessation increased among all marijuana use groups.ConclusionsCurrent marijuana users who ever used tobacco had double the prevalence (vs. never-marijuana users) of current tobacco use, and significantly lower sustained abstinence. Interventions addressing tobacco cessation in the context of use of marijuana and other substances may be warranted.