Cigarette Use and Cannabis Use Disorder Onset, Persistence, and Relapse: Longitudinal Data From a Representative...

The current study prospectively investigated the relationship between cigarette use and the onset of, persistence of, and relapse to cannabis use disorder (CUD) 3 years later among adults in the United States.

Analyses included respondents who completed Waves 1 and 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (2001-2002 and 2004-2005, respectively) and responded to questions about cigarette use, cannabis use, and CUD (n = 34,653). CUDs were defined by DSM-IV criteria using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-Diagnostic Version IV. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds of CUD onset, persistence, and relapse at Wave 2 by Wave 1 cigarette use status. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographics, psychiatric disorders, nicotine dependence, and alcohol and other substance use disorders.

Cigarette use at Wave 1 was associated with onset of CUD at Wave 2 among those without Wave 1 cannabis use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.62; 95% CI, 1.35-1.94) but not among those with Wave 1 cannabis use (AOR = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.83-1.19). Cigarette use at Wave 1 was also associated with persistence of CUD at Wave 2 among those with CUD at Wave 1 (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.30-2.00) and relapse to CUD at Wave 2 among those with remitted CUD at Wave 1 (AOR = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.09-1.45).

Among adults, cigarette use is associated with increased onset and persistence of and relapse to CUD 3 years later. Additional attention to cigarette use in community prevention and clinical treatment efforts aimed at reducing CUD may be warranted.