Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Clinical Trial
. 2013 Sep 12:8:33.
doi: 10.1186/1747-597X-8-33.

Development of an integrative cessation program for co-smokers of cigarettes and cannabis: demand analysis, program description, and acceptability

Julia Becker  1 , Ines Hungerbuehler, Oliver Berg, Maciej Szamrovicz, Andreas Haubensack, Adrian Kormann, Michael P Schaub
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Development of an integrative cessation program for co-smokers of cigarettes and cannabis: demand analysis, program description, and acceptability

Julia Becker et al. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. .

Abstract

Background: Tobacco and cannabis use are strongly interrelated, but current national and international cessation programs typically focus on one substance, and address the other substance either only marginally or not at all. This study aimed to identify the demand for, and describe the development and content of, the first integrative group cessation program for co-smokers of cigarettes and cannabis.

Methods: First, a preliminary study using expert interviews, user focus groups with (ex-)smokers, and an online survey was conducted to investigate the demand for, and potential content of, an integrative smoking cessation program (ISCP) for tobacco and cannabis co-smokers. This study revealed that both experts and co-smokers considered an ISCP to be useful but expected only modest levels of readiness for participation.Based on the findings of the preliminary study, an interdisciplinary expert team developed a course concept and a recruitment strategy. The developed group cessation program is based on current treatment techniques (such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, and self-control training) and structured into six course sessions.The program was evaluated regarding its acceptability among participants and course instructors.

Results: Both the participants and course instructors evaluated the course positively. Participants and instructors especially appreciated the group discussions and the modules that were aimed at developing personal strategies that could be applied during simultaneous cessation of tobacco and cannabis, such as dealing with craving, withdrawal, and high-risk situations.

Conclusions: There is a clear demand for a double cessation program for co-users of cigarettes and cannabis, and the first group cessation program tailored for these users has been developed and evaluated for acceptability. In the near future, the feasibility of the program will be evaluated.

Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN15248397.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Course structure, content, and techniques of the integrative cessation program for tobacco and cannabis co-smokers. Legend: CO = carbon monoxide.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Agrawal A, Budney AJ, Lynskey MT. The co-occurring use and misuse of cannabis and tobacco: a review. Addiction. 2012;107:1221–1233. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03837.x. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bélanger RE, Akre C, Kuntsche E, Gmel G, Suris J-C. Adding tobacco to cannabis–its frequency and likely implications. Nicotine Tob Res. 2011;13:746–750. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntr043. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Richter KP, Kaur H, Resnicow K, Nazir N, Mosier MC, Ahluwalia JS. Cigarette smoking among marijuana users in the United States. Subst Abus. 2005;25:35–43. - PubMed
    1. Detailed data Table 6.9B - Types of illicit drug use in the past month among persons aged 18 to 25, by past month cigarettes use: percentages, 2010 and 2011. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2011SummNatFindDetTables/NSDUH-DetTabsP....
    1. Radtke T, Keller R, Krebs H, Hornung R. Der Tabakkonsum Jugendlicher und junger Erwachsener in den Jahren 2001 bis 2009/10. Tabakmonitoring – Schweizerische Umfrage zum Tabakkonsum. [The tobacco consumption of young people in Switzerland between 2001 and 2009/10. Tobacco monitoring Switzerland - Swiss survey of tobacco consumption.] Zurich: Psychologisches Institut der Universität Zürich, Sozial- und Gesundheitspsychologie; Retrieved from http://www.tabakmonitoring.ch/Berichte/Jugendliche/Forschungsbericht/Ges....

Publication types

Associated data