Going California Sober: Study Indicates Marijuana Could Help Reducing Alcohol Consumption
Emerging research released in the American Journal of Psychiatry proposes that adopting a sober lifestyle involving cannabis approach could significantly assist people lower their alcohol consumption.
The Study and Bar Lab Setting
Researchers from Brown University carried out a novel experiment where volunteers were provided with marijuana joints to smoke before visiting a carefully constructed simulated bar environment.
- Subjects could choose to drink up to 8 small drinks.
- The trial was conducted on three occasions with different THC potencies: 7.2%, moderate potency, and a placebo marijuana.
Significant effort was taken to mimic a real-life bar environment, complete with dim lighting and drinks on tap to guarantee subject realism.
“We wanted to make sure that when presented with the chance, you would be really driven to drink,” explained the principal investigator.
Key Findings and Effects on Alcohol Use
Results showed a notable decrease in alcohol consumption after participants smoked marijuana:
- Drink intake dropped by 19% after consuming moderate-THC marijuana.
- The drop was more pronounced with 7.2% THC cannabis, leading to a twenty-seven percent reduction compared to the control.
Broader Context and Additional Studies
Expanded legalization has driven a major surge in cannabis consumption, which has doubled over the past decade.
At the same time, drink use is at a historic low, with numerous individuals turning to substitutes like marijuana.
It is important to note that 40% of study subjects met the criteria for alcohol use disorder.
While cannabis might be a potential alternative to heavy drinking, scientists caution that more research is needed.
“We’re not ready to tell individuals in treatment for alcohol, ‘Go ahead and substitute marijuana, and it will work out for you,’” the lead researcher noted.
