Going California Sober: Study Indicates Marijuana Could Assist in Reducing Alcohol Consumption
New research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that embracing a sober lifestyle involving cannabis approach might substantially help individuals lower their alcohol consumption.
The Study and Controlled Environment Setting
A team of Brown University carried out a unique study where volunteers received cannabis cigarettes to smoke before entering a carefully constructed “bar lab”.
- Participants had the option to consume up to eight small drinks.
- The experiment was repeated three separate times with different tetrahydrocannabinol levels: high potency, moderate potency, and a 0.03% marijuana.
Great care was taken to mimic a authentic bar atmosphere, complete with low light and beer taps to ensure participant authenticity.
“Our goal was to ensure that when given the opportunity, you would be really driven to consume alcohol,” explained the principal investigator.
Key Findings and Effects on Alcohol Use
Outcomes showed a notable reduction in drink intake after participants smoked cannabis:
- Drink consumption dropped by nineteen percent after using moderate-THC marijuana.
- The drop was more significant with 7.2% THC cannabis, leading to a twenty-seven percent reduction versus the placebo.
Broader Context and Additional Studies
Increased legal access has driven a significant rise in marijuana usage, which has increased twofold over the past decade.
At the same time, alcohol use is at a record low, with numerous individuals turning to alternatives like weed.
Crucial to note that forty percent of study subjects were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.
While cannabis could serve as a potential solution to heavy drinking, researchers warn that more research is needed.
“It is premature to advise people in treatment for drinking problems, ‘Go ahead and substitute cannabis, and it will work out for you,’” a study author noted.
