# Co-Abuse Cannabis and Tobacco

> **NIH NIH R33** · RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE · 2021 · $806,275

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Tobacco and cannabis are two of the most commonly abused substances in the United States. Further,
simultaneous cannabis and tobacco polysubstance use (CT-PSU) is not insubstantial and is trending upwards
as cannabis use is legalized in an increasing number of states. This upward trend is of particular concern
because, compared to use of cannabis without tobacco, CT-PSU is associated with greater cannabis
dependence, psychosocial problems, and poorer cessation outcomes, as well as with additive health risks,
relative to either substance alone. Determination of mechanisms underlying CT-PSU will require coordinated
epidemiological, preclinical, and human laboratory studies. Yet, the models and measures in each discipline
that are used most often to examine CT-PSU were developed to investigate single drug use and may not
capture unique features of CT-PSU. In the proposed project, patterns of CT-PSU will be characterized through
development and implementation of novel survey measures that focus specifically on CT-PSU (R21 phase). In
addition, a procedure for inhaled nicotine self-administration in mice will be established and validated
simultaneously with epidemiological data collection. Subsequently, results from both efforts will guide decisions
regarding experimental parameters to be used to investigate the effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC;
primary psychoactive substituent of cannabis) on inhaled nicotine’s reinforcing effects (i.e., “chasing”) and the
reinforcing effects of both drugs administered simultaneously (e.g., as in blunts or spliffs) in mice and in human
tobacco smokers and non-smokers. This translationally relevant approach will result in the establishment of
better models through which to investigate CT-PSU, with the ultimate goals of discovery of its underlying
mechanisms and development of targeted treatment approaches.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10224158
- **Project number:** 5R33DA044377-05
- **Recipient organization:** RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** JULIE A MARUSICH
- **Activity code:** R33 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $806,275
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10224158

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10224158, Co-Abuse Cannabis and Tobacco (5R33DA044377-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10224158. Licensed CC0.

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