Tobacco/nicotine use among individuals using cannabis for therapeutic purposes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: While the relationship between recreational cannabis and nicotine use is well established, little is known about nicotine use among users of cannabis for therapeutic purposes (CTP). METHODS: Patients attending a medical marijuana dispensary (N = 697; 75.3% White; 60.0% male) completed a survey examining nicotine use, motivation to quit cigarette smoking, routes of administration of nicotine and cannabis, and CTP qualifying conditions. RESULTS: More than one-third (39.3%) of participants reported current nicotine use. Compared to exclusive cigarette smokers, e-cigarette users and non-users of nicotine were approximately four times more likely to vape, rather than to smoke, cannabis. Furthermore, 46.8% of cigarette smokers reported plans to quit smoking in the next 6 months (but not in the next month) and an additional 31.6% planned to quit in the next month. Having a psychiatric condition was associated with nicotine use and higher motivation to quit smoking. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Users of CTP are more likely to use nicotine products than the general population and the route of administration of nicotine products is related to the route of administration of CTP. If aerosolized CTP is a less harmful route of administration than smoked CTP, dispensary staff should be aware of this relationship and take this into account when recommending a noncombustible route. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study further characterizes nicotine use behaviors and motivation to quit smoking among users of CTP and may be among the first to examine nicotine use among patients of a medical marijuana dispensary.

Opioids in Canada.

The opioid crisis in Canada is a complex issue with devastating consequences for individuals, families and communities. Pan-Canadian data that provide a better understanding of the crisis are a high priority to help guide efforts for reducing opioid-related harms. The objective of this study is to summarize recent trends of opioid-related harms and opioid prescribing across Canada. Opioid-related harms examined in this study include opioid poisonings, opioid use disorders, adverse reactions to opioids and infants born with neonatal withdrawal symptoms. Data are reported at the pan-Canadian, provincial and community levels.