Former cigarette smokers are smoking marijuana and binge drinking more

Rates of cigarette smoking have gone down, but new research finds that cannabis and alcohol use among former smokers has increased. Some 44% of people who previously smoked were no longer smoking in 2002, and that number rose to 50% in 2016. Looking at survey data from more than 67,000 former smokers between 2005 and 2016, researchers found that rates of marijuana use over the previous year nearly doubled, from a little over 5% to about 10%. Rates of binge drinking during the previous month also increased, from around 17% to more than 22%. At the same time, the scientists found that rates of depression also went up. Increased marijuana use and binge drinking are associated with former smokers relapsing, so the researchers urge physicians and public health experts to be aware of the risks.