Prevalence of Cannabis Use Among People Who Smoke Cigarettes and Are Scheduled for Lung Cancer Screening

Cannabis use in the US is increasing in prevalence among older adults and people who smoke cigarettes. Little is known about rates of use among adults 50 to 80 years old undergoing lung cancer screening (LCS). The current study aimed to characterize the prevalence and correlates of cannabis use among adults 50 to 80 years old at high risk for lung cancer.

This secondary analysis of data collected in 2019 to 2023 from a randomized trial that tested a smoking cessation intervention integrated with LCS. The analysis included 638 patients who were scheduled for LCS and reported smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days. We characterized the prevalence of cannabis use and describe demographic and psychological correlates of cannabis use among adults at high risk for lung cancer who smoke cigarettes and were scheduled for a LCS test.

Nineteen percent of the sample co-used cannabis at baseline, and cannabis use was associated with younger age (62.2 versus 64.3, P < .001), male gender (57.5% versus 41.3%, P = .001), lower likelihood of being White (79.2% versus 85.3, P = .004), and greater likelihood of depression symptoms (37.2% versus 23.0%, P = .002), based on bivariate analyses.

Findings suggest that cannabis use is prevalent among adults 50 to 80 years old who smoke cigarettes and are scheduled for LCS. LCS provides an opportunity for assessment of and intervention for cannabis and tobacco use.