Alcohol And Marijuana: A Deadly Combination

Alcohol and marijuana are two of the most commonly used substances globally. Alcohol is the most commonly used substance by people aged 12 and older in the United States, while marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the country. A World Health Organization (WHO) report from 2024 highlights that there are over 3 million annual deaths due to alcohol and drug use combined, with 2.6 million deaths attributable to alcohol consumption and 0.6 million to psychoactive drug use. However, the report does not specify the number of deaths caused by marijuana specifically. In the United States, excessive alcohol use leads to approximately 178,000 deaths each year, making it a leading preventable cause of death. While the health effects of marijuana are less understood, long-term or frequent use has been linked to an increased risk of psychosis or schizophrenia, and its use prior to driving increases the risk of motor vehicle accidents. In Florida, a study found that 386 people died as a result of cannabis use, with 258 of those cases caused by synthetic cannabis.

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Alcohol poisoning kills over 1,600 people in the US annually

Alcohol is one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States. According to the CDC, alcohol poisoning kills over 1,600 people in the US annually. This is a stark reminder of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.

Alcohol-related deaths have been on the rise in recent years, with an estimated 99,017 deaths among people ages 16 and older in 2020, a 25.5% increase from 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to this rise. Overall, excessive alcohol use leads to about 95,000 deaths in the US annually, with 68,000 of those being men.

Alcohol poisoning is not the only consequence of excessive drinking. Binge drinking can lead to memory impairment, with over 50% of frequent binge drinkers reporting at least one episode of blackout in the past year. During these blackouts, people may engage in risky behaviours such as drunk driving, having unprotected sex, or other impulsive actions.

In addition, alcohol is a major contributing factor to domestic violence and sexual assault. It increases the likelihood of individuals prone to such behaviour acting on their violent impulses. Alcohol also plays a role in homicides, with nearly 40% of homicide victims having consumed alcohol before their deaths.

The health consequences of excessive alcohol consumption are severe and wide-ranging. It is associated with various cancers, including those of the esophagus, stomach, colon, lungs, pancreas, liver, and prostate. Liver disease is the most common alcohol-induced health failure, and alcohol use disorder is prevalent among suicide decedents.

In contrast, marijuana, which is also widely consumed, has not been linked to any form of cancer. It is considered one of the least toxic drugs, and there has never been a case of an individual dying from a marijuana overdose. While marijuana use may be associated with memory and learning problems, as well as psychosis risk, these effects are still a subject of ongoing research and remain inconclusive.

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Alcohol is linked to violent crime, domestic abuse, and sexual assault

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that impairs cognitive, perceptual, verbal, and motor functions. It also affects emotional processing and rational thinking, making users unpredictable and dangerous. The CDC reports that nearly 88,000 alcohol-related overdose deaths occur each year, with binge drinking accounting for about half of these deaths. In addition to the health risks, alcohol is also a major contributing factor to violent crime, domestic abuse, and sexual assault.

Alcohol has been linked to violent crimes and domestic violence across many nations. Studies have found a strong correlation between alcohol consumption and violent incidents, including murder. Alcohol's disinhibiting effects and loss of emotional control increase the likelihood of physical assaults and violent crimes. For example, a national study of 16,698 inmates found that alcohol played a more significant role in violent offenses such as homicide, physical assaults, and sexual assaults than in robberies or burglaries.

Alcohol is also a significant factor in domestic abuse and intimate partner violence. Alcohol use can lead to aggression, intimidation, forced sexual activity, and other forms of controlling behavior within relationships. Research shows that two-thirds of victims suffering from violence by a current or former spouse or partner report that the perpetrator had been drinking. Alcohol can also contribute to financial difficulties, child care problems, infidelity, and other challenges within relationships.

Sexual assault is another area where alcohol plays a detrimental role. Alcohol impairs judgment and increases aggression, creating an environment where sexual assaults are more likely to occur. Approximately 37% of sexual assaults and rapes are committed by offenders who were under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol abuse can also lead to a lack of consent or the inability to give consent due to intoxication or an altered mental state.

In contrast, marijuana, which is also a widely used substance, has not been associated with violent crimes or sexual assaults. Marijuana is considered one of the least toxic drugs, and there has never been a case of an individual dying from a marijuana overdose. While marijuana use may have some risks and side effects, it does not carry the same level of violence and aggression associated with alcohol consumption.

Alcohol damages brain cells and is linked to various cancers

Alcohol is a neurotoxin that negatively impacts the brain and is linked to various cancers. It is a major contributing factor to the prevalence of domestic violence and sexual assault. According to the CDC, alcohol poisoning leads to over 1,600 deaths in the US annually, with nearly 88,000 alcohol-related overdose deaths each year. Binge drinking accounts for about half of these fatalities.

Alcohol damages brain cells and impairs the ability to create new memories. Over 50% of frequent binge drinkers reported at least one episode in the past year where they experienced a "blackout" and could not remember where they were or what they did. These blackouts have led to dangerous behaviours such as drunk driving, unprotected sex, and other risky behaviours.

Recent studies have also shown that adolescents who consume alcohol may experience long-lasting effects on their brain development, with impaired memory and learning abilities later in life. Additionally, consuming alcohol during pregnancy can have detrimental effects on the child, leading to physical, behavioural, and intellectual disabilities, collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).

Alcohol is a significant risk factor for various cancers. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) attributes about 5.5% of all new cancer diagnoses and 5.8% of all cancer deaths to alcohol consumption. The link between alcohol and cancer is primarily due to the following mechanisms:

• Acetaldehyde, a toxic chemical formed when ethanol in alcoholic drinks is metabolised, can damage DNA and proteins and impair cell repair mechanisms.
• Alcohol increases the levels of certain hormones, such as oestrogen and insulin, which can promote cell division and increase the chance of cancer development.
• Alcohol makes it easier for cells in the mouth and throat to absorb harmful chemicals, such as those from cigarette smoke, leading to an increased risk of oral and throat cancers.
• Alcohol impairs the absorption of vital nutrients, such as vitamins A, B complex, C, D, and E, as well as folate, iron, and selenium, which are essential for protecting against cancer.
• Alcohol contributes to weight gain, and excess weight is associated with an increased risk of over 12 types of cancer.

While the specific number of deaths caused by alcohol-related cancers is not readily available, it is clear that alcohol consumption significantly increases the risk of various cancers and is a leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide.

Marijuana has never caused an overdose death

While alcohol and marijuana are both widely used and often consumed in social settings, there are significant differences in the impact they can have on health and safety.

Firstly, it is important to address the issue of overdose deaths. According to the CDC, nearly 88,000 alcohol-related overdose deaths occur annually in the United States, with more than 1,600 of these attributed to alcohol poisoning. On the other hand, marijuana has never caused an overdose death. A study found that a fatal dose of THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, would be between 15 and 70 grams. Considering that a typical joint contains about half a gram of marijuana, one would have to consume between 238 and 1,113 joints in a day to theoretically overdose on marijuana, which is practically impossible.

The disparity in the potential for overdose between the two substances underscores their relative toxicity. Marijuana is considered one of the least toxic drugs, requiring a massive amount to achieve a fatal dose, which makes it virtually impossible to overdose on. In contrast, alcohol's toxicity contributes to the thousands of overdose deaths each year.

In addition to the direct health impacts, the association with violent crimes and accidents is another key differentiator between the two substances. Alcohol is linked to a significant number of violent crimes in the United States, with an estimated 25-30% of violent crimes attributed to alcohol use. This translates to millions of alcohol-related violent crimes annually. Alcohol also increases the likelihood of domestic abuse and sexual assault. On the other hand, marijuana use is not associated with violence, and the government does not track violent acts specifically related to marijuana consumption. While marijuana prohibition has been linked to acts of violence due to the creation of a criminal market, the substance itself does not contribute to violent behaviour in the way that alcohol does.

Furthermore, the impact of alcohol and marijuana on the brain and overall health presents another contrast. Alcohol use damages brain cells and is associated with a wide variety of cancers, including cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon, lungs, pancreas, liver, and prostate. Conversely, marijuana has been found to have neuroprotective properties, and its use has not been conclusively linked to any form of cancer. Studies have even indicated that marijuana may offer some protection against the damage caused by alcohol use, as adolescents who used marijuana and alcohol suffered less harm to the white matter in their brains compared to those who only consumed alcohol.

While marijuana use is not entirely without potential harms and side effects, the evidence suggests that it is far less harmful than alcohol when comparing the number of overdose deaths, associations with violent crimes, and impacts on brain health and cancer risk.

Driving under the influence of marijuana increases the risk of accidents

While marijuana is considered to be significantly less harmful than alcohol in terms of toxicity and overdose, with no recorded deaths from marijuana overdose, driving under the influence of marijuana is still dangerous and illegal. In 2018, approximately 12 million US residents aged 16 and above reported driving under the influence of marijuana in the past year, with a higher prevalence among males and younger individuals aged 16-34.

Marijuana use can impair important skills required for safe driving, such as slowing reaction time and decision-making abilities, and altering perception, judgment, short-term memory, and cognitive abilities. These impairments can increase the risk of motor vehicle crashes, with studies showing an association between acute cannabis use and car accidents. However, the effects of marijuana on driving performance vary depending on factors such as dose, potency, means of consumption, and individual differences.

While some experienced smokers may be able to compensate effectively for these impairments when driving, combining marijuana with alcohol can significantly increase the risk of impairment and accidents. This is because the detrimental effects of marijuana and alcohol together can eliminate the ability to employ compensatory strategies effectively. Research has shown that the use of multiple substances simultaneously, such as cannabis and alcohol, can result in greater impairment than the use of either substance alone.

Furthermore, driving is a complex task that requires full attention, and marijuana can affect areas of the brain that control movement, balance, coordination, memory, and judgment. This can make it challenging to handle unexpected events while driving, increasing the risk of accidents. Therefore, it is crucial to refrain from driving under the influence of marijuana to ensure the safety of oneself and others on the road.

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