Going California Sober: Research Suggests Cannabis Could Assist in Reducing Alcohol Intake
New research released in the prestigious psychiatry journal proposes that adopting a sober lifestyle involving cannabis method might substantially assist people lower their alcohol consumption.
The Study and Controlled Environment Setting
Researchers from Brown University conducted a unique experiment where participants were provided with cannabis cigarettes to smoke before visiting a specially designed simulated bar environment.
- Subjects had the option to drink up to eight small drinks.
- The experiment was repeated on three occasions with different tetrahydrocannabinol levels: 7.2%, 3.1%, and a 0.03% cannabis.
Significant effort was taken to replicate a real-life bar environment, complete with low light and beer taps to ensure subject authenticity.
โWe wanted to ensure that when given the opportunity, you would be really driven to drink,โ explained the principal investigator.
Key Findings and Impact on Drinking
Results showed a marked reduction in alcohol consumption after participants smoked cannabis:
- Drink intake fell by nineteen percent after using moderate-THC cannabis.
- The drop was more pronounced with high-THC marijuana, leading to a 27% reduction compared to the placebo.
Wider Trends and Future Research
Expanded legal access has spurred a significant rise in cannabis consumption, which has doubled over the past decade.
Meanwhile, alcohol use is at a record low, with many turning to alternatives like marijuana.
It is important to note that forty percent of study participants were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.
While marijuana could serve as a possible solution to heavy alcohol use, scientists caution that further study is required.
โWeโre not ready to tell individuals in treatment for alcohol, โProceed and replace marijuana, and it will work out for you,โโ the lead researcher commented.
