People with cannabis use disorder are up to five times more likely to develop head and neck cancer.
- Cannabis is associated with an increased risk of head and neck cancer, a new study finds.
- Cannabis users are 3.5 to 5 times more likely to develop the disease than people who do not use it.
- The increased risk of head and neck cancer may be due to smoking, researchers say.
Regular cannabis use may not only compromise learning and memory abilities or mental health. A study from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California reveals that cannabis, the most commonly used illicit substance in the world, is associated with an increased incidence of head and neck cancer.
The results were presented in the journal Jama Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgeryon August 8th.
Cannabis: its consumption linked to head and neck cancer
To better assess the effects of the psychoactive drug, the researchers took a 20-year database of care provided by 64 health organizations. That’s more than 90 million patients. The team looked at cancer cases over a period of one to five years of cannabis use. By analyzing their medical records, the scientists found that adults with cannabis dependence were 3.5 to 5 times more likely to develop head and neck cancer than those who didn’t use it.
“This is one of the first studies – and the largest we know of to date – to link head and neck cancer to cannabis use.”says Niels Kokot, a surgeon at the USC Head and Neck Center and author of the research. “Detecting this risk factor is important because head and neck cancer can be prevented once people know which behaviors increase their risk.”
Head cancer and cannabis: is smoking the cause?
Why does cannabis increase the risk of head and neck cancer? Scientists suggest it may be related to the smoke. They believe cannabis smoke causes similar effects to tobacco smoke. That is, DNA damage and inflammation that can lead to cancer. Dr. Kokot adds that there is some evidence that it may be even worse.
“Cannabis consumption is generally unfiltered and involves deeper inhalation than tobacco”explains the doctor in a press release. “Additionally, cannabis burns at a higher temperature than tobacco, which increases the risk of carcinogenic inflammation.”
The scientist would like to see further research into the link he has discovered. In the meantime, he hopes his work will help people.”to make more informed choices” And “to raise awareness of the link between head and neck cancer and cannabis use.”
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