Marijuana use could make COVID breakthrough cases more likely

According to the results of a new study, using marijuana can lead to a significantly higher risk of contracting COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated.

The study was published Tuesday in the journal Global Psychiatry and focused on ‘breakthrough’ COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated people diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD), a condition that involves uncontrolled dependence on substances such as marijuana, l alcohol, cocaine, opioids and tobacco. While breakthrough infections were seen in 3.6 percent of people vaccinated without SUD, the study found that 7 percent of people with SUD had breakthrough infections.

At 7.8 percent, the risk of breakthrough infections was highest among people with marijuana use disorders. For any other type of substance, the seemingly increased risk of contracting COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated disappeared when researchers took into account factors such as underlying health conditions, housing difficulties or hardship. economic. The study hypothesized that the increased risk that remained in those who used marijuana could be due to differences in behavior or the effects of the drug on the lungs or immune system.

“Patients with cannabis use disorders, who were younger and had fewer comorbidities than other SUD subtypes, had a higher risk of breakthrough infection even after being matched for socio-determinants. “Adverse economic health and comorbid medical conditions with non-SUD patients,” the researchers wrote. “Additional variables, such as behavioral factors or the adverse effects of cannabis on lung and immune function, could contribute to the higher risk of breakthrough infection in this group.”

The study also found that those who received the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine were at greater risk of a breakthrough infection than those who received the Moderna vaccine – findings which are in line with other research which has suggested that Moderna vaccine offers more protection against highly contagious Delta. variant. It is also believed that the antibodies that protect against the virus decline more rapidly in recipients of Pfizer than in those who have received the Moderna vaccine.

The study was conducted by researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which is part of the National Institutes of Health. It is not clear whether the study’s findings apply to occasional or medical marijuana users, as it focused narrowly on people with SUD. The researchers noted that, despite the apparently increased risk of breakthrough infections, the overall rate of infection in fully vaccinated people with SUD was still low compared to unvaccinated ones.

“First and foremost, vaccination is very effective for people with substance use disorders, and the overall risk of COVID-19 in vaccinated people with substance use disorders is very low, ”said NIDA director Dr Nora D. Volkow, one of the study leaders. authors, said in a statement. “We must continue to encourage and facilitate vaccination against COVID-19 in people with substance use disorders, while recognizing that even after vaccination, this group is at increased risk and should continue to take protective measures against COVID-19. “

News week has contacted the National Cannabis Industry Association for comment.