Better Than Tobacco?
Written by admin, March 27, 2013
March 27, 2013 – The impact of marijuana and tobacco on lung health and cancer risk
Presentation held on March 26
Last night Dr. John Vlasschaert, Respirologist, gave a presentation to 40 people at the Peterborough Public Library about the different effects of marijuana and tobacco on lung health.
“It is well known that tobacco smoke has negative health impacts, including cardiovascular disease and cancers,” said Dr.Vlasschaert. “What isn’t as well known is the health impact of smoking marijuana. The pattern of lung function abnormalities among cannabis smokers is clearly different than those associated with tobacco. While smoking marijuana is more commonly associated with large airway inflammation and symptoms of bronchitis, more research is needed to identify the long term health effects.”
The event was sponsored by the Peterborough Drug Strategy (PDS), a collaboration of citizens, prevention, treatment, enforcement, and harm reduction agencies to reduce the negative impacts of substance use.
“Students in our tobacco cessation programs in the high schools are asking a lot of questions about the co-use of marijuana and tobacco. There’s a perception among youth that marijuana is less harmful than tobacco,” said Claire Townshend, Health Promoter at Peterborough Public Health, one of the PDS community partners. “It is important for youth and adults to understand the facts and to discuss marijuana and tobacco use at the same time.”
Highlights from the presentation included:
Cannabis is becoming one of our more frequently used drugs, particularly amongst youth:
- 29% of students in Peterborough City & County high schools reported using cannabis at least once in the year before a study conducted with 1,376 youth in 2011[i].
- 13.4% of Ontario adults reported using cannabis at least once in the 12 months prior to a telephone survey conducted in 2011[ii]. Amongst young adults (aged 18-29), 33.5% report this use.
Tobacco use remains a concern, especially amongst youth:
- 9% of Peterborough high school students reported being a current smoker in a survey conducted in 2011. Overall 36% of students surveyed reported ever trying a cigarette.[iii]
- Youth smoking rates are particularly concerning since research indicates that 85% of current smokers started smoking by age 19.[iv]
Research indicates that youth who are smoking cigarettes are also smoking marijuana:
- 11.7% of Ontario high school students reported occasional or daily tobacco smoking in 2009[v](this does not include “trying” tobacco). Only 1.4% of these tobacco users did not also use cannabis[vi].
- 12.2% of Canadian students (grade 6-12) reported daily or occasional smoking in a 2011 study. Of these, 81% of students (grade 7-9) and 85% (grade 10-12) reported also using cannabis in 2011. [vii]
- 59% of Canadian youth in grade 7-12 who have “ever tried” smoking cigarettes have used cannabis in the last 12 months, compared to just 9% amongst students who have never tried smoking cigarettes[viii].
- A study of over 3,500 young adults (aged 18-25) found that half of the smokers also used cannabis[ix].
[i] Peterborough Public Health (2011). Smoking Profile for a Sampling of Peterborough Area High Schools. Waterloo, ON: Propel Centre for Population Health Impact.
[ii] Ialomiteanu, A.R., Adlaf, E.M., Hamilton, H. & Mann, R.E. (2012). CAMH Monitor eReport: Addiction and Mental Health Indicators Among Ontario Adults, 1977-2011 (CAMH Research Document Series No. 35). Toronto: Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health. www.camh.ca/en/research/news_and_publications/Pages/camh_monitor.aspx
[iii] Peterborough Public Health (2011). Smoking Profile for a Sampling of Peterborough Area High Schools. Waterloo, ON: Propel Centre for Population Health Impact.
[iv] Health Canada. (2002). 2000-2002 Report on Tobacco Control-An Update. Retrieved March 2004, from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-
vs/pubs/tobac-tabac/report-rapport/index_e.html
[v] Paglia?Boak, A., Mann, R.E., Adlaf, E.M., & Rehm, J. (2011). Drug use among Ontario Students,
1977?2011: Detailed OSDUHS findings. (CAMH Research Document Series No. 32). Toronto, ON: Centre
for Addiction and Mental Health. www.camh.net/Research/Areas_of_research/Population_Life_Course_Studies/OSDUS/2011OSDUHS_Detailed_DrugUseReport_2.pdf
[vi] Ontario Tobacco Research Unit (Sept. 27, 2011). Thirty Year Trends in Tobacco and Cannabis Use Among Ontario Youth. http://otru.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/update_september2011.pdf
[vii] 2010-11 Youth Smoking Survey
[viii] Peterborough Public Health (2011). Smoking Profile for a Sampling of Peterborough Area High Schools. Waterloo, ON: Propel Centre for Population Health Impact.
[ix] Ramo, D. & Prochaska, J. (2012). “Prevalence and co-use of marijuana among young adult cigarette smokers: An anonymous online national survey.” Addiction Science and Clinical Practice 2012, 7, 5.
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For more information contact:
Kerri Kightley 705 876-1122 Ext 292 or email info@peterboroughdrugstrategy.com