Assessing Cannabis as a Harm Reduction Strategy: Insights from a Large-Scale Study

Published on: November 19, 2024

A New Zealand study aimed to assess cannabis use as a harm reduction tool. Findings highlight lifestyle factors, and suggest cannabis-focused harm reduction strategies in reducing other substance use such as alcohol.

A recently published study examined the effect of cannabis use on other substance use, seeking more clarity on potential variations in age and ethnicity. Researchers examined data from an online survey with 23,500 respondents from New Zealand on their current cannabis and substance use. The article, “Exploring the substitution of cannabis for alcohol and other drugs among a large convenience sample of people who use cannabis,” was published in Harm Reduction Journal in November 2024.

Using data from the 2020 New Zealand Drugs Trends Survey (NZDTS), researchers sought to see if cannabis was being substituted for other substances, and whether cannabis led to more, less, or same level of other drug use. The survey asked participants about their use of drugs within the past six months (cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, methamphetamine, MDMA [3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine], lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD]/psychedelics, morphine, synthetic cannabinoids, and cocaine) and the frequency of use (1–2 times in past six months, monthly, 1–2 times per week, daily or near daily). Respondents were also asked about the quantity consumed.

Respondents who indicated past drug use were then asked: “Does using cannabis mean you use more/less or same of [each other drug].” Answer options for this question, which was asked separately for each drug type indicated, were: “a lot more”, “little more”, “no impact/same”, “little less”, “a lot less.” In general, the number of respondents who answered “a lot more” to use of any drug was small.

Results stated that “98% of the people who used cannabis had also used one of the eight other drug types in the same six-month period.” The top three drug types most used along with cannabis were alcohol, tobacco, and MDMA.

Additionally, the study’s abstract listed the following findings:

Significant proportions reported cannabis use led to “less” alcohol (60%), synthetic cannabinoid (60%), morphine (44%) and methamphetamine (40%) use.
Those who reported using “less” had lower frequency and amount used of other drugs.
Approximately seven-out-ten reported cannabis use had “no impact” on LSD, MDMA, and cocaine use.
One-in-five reported using cannabis led to “more” tobacco use.
Young adults (21–35-years) were more likely to report cannabis use led to “less” drinking and methamphetamine use.
Adolescent co-users (16–20 years) reported mixed impacts.
Māori were more likely to report cannabis use resulted in “less” alcohol, tobacco, methamphetamine, and LSD use.
Students and those living in cities were less likely to report cannabis use lowering use of other substances.

The researchers concluded that a range of factors such as age, lifestyle, culture, personality type, and cannabinoid composition do influence use of substances such as cannabis, alcohol, and other drugs. Using the results, the researchers also made several suggestions for future harm reduction policies. For example, “Harm reduction initiatives could include peer and community run programs offering free or low-cost cannabis to disadvantaged people experiencing substance use issues.” Additionally, greater access to cannabis for young adults ages 20 years and older could reduce excessive alcohol consumption, and cannabis use could be used by certain individuals to reduce methamphetamine use directly or as a support for treatment.

Reference

Wilkins, C.; Romeo, J.; Rychert, M.; Graydon-Guy, T. Exploring the substitution of cannabis for alcohol and other drugs among a large convenience sample of people who use cannabis. Harm Reduct J (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01111-w

Assessing Cannabis as a Harm Reduction Strategy: Insights from a Large-Scale Study

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