As observed with the co-use of alcohol and tobacco, alcohol and marijuana appear to regularly be co-administered in a pattern that escalates severity of use of each drug and creates impediments in reduction of drug use. At the population level, concurrent alcohol and marijuana use is quite common, with over 75% of marijuana users reporting alcohol use (Agrawal et al., 2007; Butterworth et al., 2014; Haas et al., 2015; Hyggen and Hammer, 2014; Midanik et al., 2007). While marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the world and is becoming increasingly legal in the USA, relatively little is known about event-level patterns of marijuana co-use with alcohol and/or tobacco.
The reported sample draws from baseline data collected as a part of four human laboratory studies. All study procedures were approved by the University of California, Los Angeles Institutional Review Board and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The characterization of sex differences in patterns of event-level co-use also may have important implications for understating the etiology and treatment of addiction.
As more states legalize or decriminalize marijuana use and its use becomes more tacitly accepted across the country, it is expected that prevalence of marijuana use and CUD will continue to rise (Compton et al., 2016; Pacula and Smart, 2017; Pew Research Center, 2014). While there is still some debate on this topic (Kerr et al., 2017; Pacula and Smart, 2017), the national rise in the prevalence of marijuana use, particularly in adults, appears to be related to the increasing number of states that fully legalized or legalized medicinal use over this same time (Cerdá et al., 2012; Hasin et al., 2015b; Legislatures, 2016; Mauro et al., 2017; Wen et al., 2014). Marijuana is the most used illicit drug in the world and third most commonly used drug of abuse in the nation. The prevalence of, problems arising from, and motives underlying the co-use of alcohol and drinking age map tobacco have been well documented (for review, see McKee and Weinberger, 2013; Roche et al., 2016a).
An individual’s history of substance use, including frequency, quantity, and duration of use may influence simultaneous use effects due to the potential development of tolerance among those who heavily use substances. Findings suggest the prolonged duration of cannabis’ effects is dose-dependent and based on the type of alcohol consumed, which provides partial support for the hypothesized additive and synergistic effects of SAM use. Ronen and colleagues show that fixed administration paradigms of alcohol (target level 0.05% BAC) with cannabis (13mg THC) results in significantly higher VAS ratings of ‘sedation’ compared to placebo, alcohol-only, and cannabis-only (Ronen et al., 2010). In a separate sample, using a within-subject experimental design, alcohol combined with a fixed paradigm of smoked cannabis (13mg THC) significantly increases ratings of ‘drug effect’ compared to alcohol-only, cannabis-only, and placebo (Ronen et al., 2010). Additionally, co-administration resulted in significantly greater dysphoria and somatic effects (LSD), sedation (PCAG), and both alcohol sedation and euphoria compared to placebo.
- The best ways to avoid the spins are to monitor your alcohol intake and eat before drinking.
- Here’s what you should know about how alcohol and cannabis interact.
- Furthermore, breastfeeding women are advised to avoid using marijuana until more conclusive data is available, as the effects on infants are not fully understood.
- Use also increases when users experience a difficult time in their lives, such as the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or even mental illness.
- CBD is the second most prevalent cannabis constituent, with a favorable abuse liability profile given it does not produce typical behavioral cannabimimetic effects (e.g., psychoactive).
- Additionally, the combination of alcohol and weed can impair reaction times and other cognitive functions necessary for safe activities such as driving.
As summarized in thesections below, this Virtual Issue provides a current assessment of cannabis-alcoholinteractions and shows patterns of drug use and risk profiles that may impact theprevalence of co-use and dependence. Simultaneous drug use may be perceived as a means tocomplement or enhance the effects of each substance (Patrick et al., 2018), despite some individuals reporting negativeeffects (Lee et al., 2017). Talk to a healthcare provider before trying marijuana to treat alcohol withdrawal. If you are attempting to reduce your consumption of either substance, keeping weed and alcohol separate (or skipping them altogether) makes that journey easier and safer. Using cannabis before drinking alcohol may slow the absorption of alcohol, while drinking alcohol before using marijuana increases THC absorption, making you feel higher than intended. Both alcohol and marijuana are psychoactive substances that affect effects of alcohol on each part of the body your central nervous system, but they do so in different ways.
Treatment
For instance, a study involving over 39,000 underage drinkers revealed that more than one-in-five reported simultaneous use of liquor and marijuana, underscoring the prevalence of this behavior. The term ‘cross faded’ describes the simultaneous intoxication that occurs when an individual consumes both alcohol and marijuana. This article delves into the important topic of mixing marijuana and alcohol, often described as being “cross faded.” Have you ever wondered how this combination might affect your experience? A treatment center will attempt to verify your health insurance benefits and/or necessary authorizations on your behalf.
What Happens if You Use Alcohol and Weed Together?
At Mainspring Recovery, we know how important it is to have a trusted partner while you leave drugs and alcohol behind. It’s important to prioritize your well-being and safety when consuming these substances together. Some interactions can increase the risk of adverse effects. Pace yourself and be mindful of the effects of each substance before deciding to consume more.
- This enhanced effect can be compounding, catching even experienced marijuana users off guard.
- Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago – this is the highest risk group, which also includes asbestos, radiation and tobacco.
- An interaction between ethanol and THC was observed, however, on ratings of desire to consume more of the administered drug.
- Other research, however, demonstrates that cannabis and alcohol use may contribute to atypical cortical development 52, 53 which may increase vulnerability to mental health difficulties and co-occurring SUDs in adulthood 54, 55 compared to use of either substance alone or non-users.
- Drinking alcohol before using cannabis can increase the effects of THC by widening your blood vessels, helping THC absorb into your body.
- While regular users may develop some tolerance to either cannabis or alcohol individually, the substance interaction between these two is unpredictable.
What Happens When You Mix Alcohol and Weed? Knowing the Risk
Combining these substances can intensify the effects of both. When used together, the effects of marijuana and alcohol can compound in unexpected, and sometimes harmful, ways. Although marijuana is sometimes perceived as “safer” than other substances, it still has real physiological and psychological impacts, especially when used frequently or in high doses. Click here to learn more about alcohol’s effects on your health. But mixing these two substances, often called “crossfading,” can lead to dangerous side effects, unpredictable interactions, and long-term consequences for your brain and body. Many people assume combining alcohol and marijuana is harmless, maybe even fun.
Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana consumption is associated with increased odds of same-day substance co- and tri-use
Moreover, large-scale national surveys indicate that individuals with a lifetime cannabis use disorder (CUD) diagnosis are at an elevated risk for developing a comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD) 1–3. Among alcohol drinkers, cannabis is the most widely used drug with about 58% of adolescent drinkers reporting marijuana use . In serious cases, some people misuse both weed and alcohol because they struggle with a substance use disorder or an addiction. Others may drink alcohol before smoking marijuana to purposefully intensify the effects of weed. Drinking alcohol before smoking weed can amplify the effects of marijuana. Marijuana (weed) and alcohol are two commonly used substances.
However, the presence of alcohol can selectively potentiate the effects of THC on divided attention tasks. Cross-tolerance refers to the phenomenon where chronic use of a drug leads to tolerance for that drug’s effects and other drugs that produce similar effects. For example, one person may have a very low tolerance for weed but be able to tolerate alcohol well, and vice versa. The best ways to avoid the spins are to monitor your alcohol intake and eat before drinking.
Health Conditions
Researchers should consider reactive/situational factors, variability in terms of drinking and cannabis use levels, and distinct domains with respect to subjective evaluations of SAM use versus single-substance alcohol and cannabis effects. The purpose of this narrative review is to extend prior work by examining the effects of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use on subjective drug effects across multiple research methodologies including qualitative research, laboratory experiments (THC and CBD), and naturalistic studies. Of the many factors examined as an early indicator of sustained and problematic substance use, subjective responses to alcohol and cannabis use serve as a valuable indicator for identifying individuals at risk for continued use and substance use disorders (Fergusson et al., 2003; King et al., 2021; Le Strat et al., 2009; Scherrer et al., 2009; Zeiger et al., 2010).
Alcohol dependence is real
Studies show that simultaneous use of alcohol and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) can increase the risk of substance use disorders and mental health problems. Regular use of alcohol and cannabis raises significant public health concerns, particularly among young adults and adolescents. As cannabis legalization spreads across the US, more people are finding themselves in social situations where both weed and alcohol are available.
Earlier studies characterize simultaneous use as using both substances “at the same time”, “on the same occasion/event”, and “in combination” (Brière et al., 2011; Collins et al., 1998; Earleywine and Newcomb, 1997; Martin et al., 1996). Concurrent use is typically characterized as using both substances “at least once in the past month/year” or “on the same day,” without specifying whether both substances were consumed together or within a specific timeframe (Arterberry et al., 2020; Gunn et al., 2022a; Metrik et al., 2019). Overall, this narrative review highlights the need for more comprehensive research to better understand subjective drug effects related to the SAM use in diverse populations and settings, emphasizing the importance of frequent and nuanced assessment of SAM use and subjective responses in naturalistic settings. Even casual cannabis or alcohol use can affect your health. Moreover, today’s cannabis is far more potent than what older users remember, said Ziva Cooper, PhD, research director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Bainbridge said people can react to either alcohol or cannabis differently, even in limited amounts.
Our results may aid in the understanding of how simultaneous co-use of marijuana with alcohol and/or tobacco relates to the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of AUD, CUD, and tobacco use disorder (TUD). Similarly, any cigarette smoking increased the probability of same-day alcohol or marijuana co-use, and marijuana use also increased the odds of same-day alcohol or cigarette co-use. As with the results predicting cigarette smoking and marijuana use, the effects predicting alcohol use were not affected by the inclusion of covariates, and no covariates predicted alcohol use likelihood. As a result of this additivity, the odds of marijuana use on days where both alcohol and cigarettes were used are 5.59 times greater than on days of no alcohol or cigarette use (Fig. 1B). To test whether use of one drug increases the likelihood of same-day co-use, a series of multilevel models were run with daily use of each drug included as Level 1 variables and drug use frequency person means also included as covariates to disentangle the between-subject effects summarized in 3.1 from same-day effects. In accordance with the NIH policy on considering sex as a biological variable (Health, 2015) and given the sex maverick house sober living differences in the prevalence of marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol use in the US (Carliner et al., 2017), we also tested for sex differences in the propensity for drug co-use.
Volpicelli says cannabis use can temporarily impair short-term memory, but chronic marijuana use lessens this over time because your body begins tolerating the effect. And if you get sick from smoking first and then drinking, the likelihood of vomiting is very low because weed also works as an antiemetic. The increased alcohol intake increases the risk for toxicity. And because of the way alcohol increases THC absorption, you’ll need less cannabis to get you on the road to stonerville. Giordano says drinking before smoking may also make it easier for drugs to enter the brain — although further research is needed. Any type of alcohol — whether it’s wine, beer, or a shot — increases the absorption of THC in cannabis products by priming liver enzymes.
The order of consumption and individual factors also play a role in the overall experience. While they produce different effects, they share a similar target in the brain’s dopamine reward system. Crucially, long-term success comes from addressing the underlying causes of alcohol use, whether emotional, psychological, or social, and replacing the behavior with sustainable alternatives. Until more definitive research is available, it is not advisable to use cannabis as a liver-protective agent. Additionally, cannabis use affects endocannabinoid receptors in the liver, which could influence inflammation and fat accumulation.