What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Addiction.

Where was this research published?

Published in Drug and alcohol dependence on July 21, 2026.

Basic needs may shape cannabis’s role in opioid withdrawal

Q: What did this research study find?

**Material hardship significantly changed the relationship between cannabis use and opioid withdrawal frequency.**

Material hardship moderates the association between cannabis use frequency and opioid withdrawal frequency among people who inject drugs.

Drug and alcohol dependence • July 21, 2026 • Highly Relevant

🤖

AI Summary

This exploratory study examined whether cannabis use frequency was associated with how often people who inject drugs experienced opioid withdrawal, and whether access to basic necessities changed that relationship. Researchers surveyed 472 people who inject drugs in Los Angeles and Denver between 2021 and 2022 about cannabis use, opioid withdrawal, and material hardship—including difficulty accessing food, shelter, clothing, water, or housing. The study reports associations, not proof that cannabis causes changes in withdrawal.

💡 Key Findings

Material hardship significantly changed the relationship between cannabis use and opioid withdrawal frequency.

Good

65%

Among people reporting lower levels of hardship, higher cannabis use was associated with lower opioid withdrawal frequency.

Good

65%

Among people reporting higher levels of hardship, higher cannabis use was associated with higher opioid withdrawal frequency, suggesting that social conditions may influence how cannabis is used for withdrawal management.

Good

65%

The findings support addressing basic-needs access alongside substance-use interventions for people who inject drugs.

Good

65%

📄 Original Abstract

Previous literature identified cannabis as a potential opioid withdrawal management tool. We conducted an exploratory analysis on cannabis and opioid use among a community sample of people who inject drugs (PWID) and use opioids. We also considered the role that material hardship (inaccessibility of food, shelter, clothing, water, housing) plays in the relation between cannabis use and opioid withdrawal. We surveyed 472 PWID in Los Angeles, CA and Denver, CO between 2021 and 2022 on cannabis use frequency, material hardship, and opioid withdrawal frequency. We used Poisson and zero-inflation regression to examine associations between cannabis use and opioid withdrawal with material hardship as a moderator. Material hardship significantly moderated the association between cannabis use and opioid withdrawal. At low levels of material hardship, higher cannabis use was significantly associated with lower opioid withdrawal frequency. Conversely, at high levels of material hardship, higher cannabis use was significantly associated with higher opioid withdrawal frequency. Material hardship may influence if and how cannabis may be used for opioid withdrawal management. Interventions should aim to address gaps in basic needs access among PWID.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Drug and alcohol dependence
Published: July 21, 2026
PMID: 42531922
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113284

Authors (5)

Daniel R Trigo Keck School of Medicine, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Sid S Ganesh Keck School of Medicine, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: ssganesh@usc.edu.
Srehith Sannareddy Keck School of Medicine, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Bradley T Conner Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Ricky N Bluthenthal Keck School of Medicine, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.