Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that individuals with cannabis use disorder face a significantly higher risk of developing oral cancer. This study brings to light the potential long-term health risks of problematic cannabis use, emphasizing the importance of further research and public health awareness.
In a revealing new study, researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that individuals diagnosed with cannabis use disorder (CUD) are more than three times as likely to develop oral cancer within five years compared to non-users. This significant finding underscores the potential long-term health risks associated with chronic cannabis use.
The growing prevalence of cannabis use in the United States, with approximately 17.7 million reporting daily or near-daily consumption in 2022, makes these findings particularly relevant. Despite cannabis’s widespread acceptance and perceived safety compared to substances like tobacco and alcohol, crucial questions about its long-term health implications remain.
“Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco smoke, which have known damaging effects on the epithelial tissue that lines the mouth,” Raphael Cuomo, an associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine and a member of UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, said in a news release. “These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic or problematic cannabis use may contribute to cancer risk in tissues exposed to combustion products.”
Cuomo analyzed electronic health records of over 45,000 patients, identifying 949 individuals diagnosed with CUD. His analysis revealed that individuals with CUD had a 325% higher likelihood of developing oral cancer within five years compared to those without the disorder.
Notably, the risk was even greater among tobacco smokers with CUD, who were 624% more likely to develop oral cancer compared to tobacco smokers without CUD.
Published in Preventive Medicine Reports, this study is pivotal since the increased risk of oral cancer associated with CUD persisted even after adjusting for smoking status and other variables like age, sex and body mass index.
The researchers suggest that other factors besides smoke inhalation may be at play. For instance, THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis, is known to suppress the immune system, potentially contributing to a higher cancer risk.
The implications of these findings are broad and immediate. They call for updated cancer screening practices and a reevaluation of public health messages concerning cannabis use. There is a crucial need for more in-depth research into the potential health risks of cannabis, emphasizing the importance of integrating oral health awareness into substance use disorder treatments and counseling sessions.