Health
Heavy drinkers cut alcohol use by nearly 30% after adopting one new habit, study finds
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Certain people who use cannabis tend to drink less alcohol, a new study found.
Researchers from Brown University’s Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies set out to determine whether cannabis use has an effect on alcohol craving and consumption — specifically, whether smoking marijuana can reduce alcohol use in heavy drinkers.
The randomized, controlled study included 157 adults between the ages of 21 and 44 who reported heavy drinking and regular cannabis use (at least bi-weekly).
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Each participant completed three two-hour “lab sessions” with different types of cannabis use. They received one of two levels of THC or a placebo, and then were given the choice to drink alcohol or accept a cash payment.
Those who smoked cannabis with the higher level of THC (7.2%) consumed about 27% less alcohol than those who smoked a placebo. They also reported an immediate reduction in the urge to drink.
Those who smoked cannabis with the higher level of THC (7.2%) consumed about 27% less alcohol than those who smoked a placebo. (iStock)
Participants who smoked cannabis with 3.1% THC smoked about 19% less alcohol.
“In our controlled bar lab study, after people smoked cannabis, they drank about a quarter less alcohol over the next two hours,” lead study author Jane Metrik, Ph.D., professor of behavioral and social sciences at Brown’s Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, told Fox News Digital.
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Cannabis had mixed effects on alcohol cravings, the researchers reported.
“We found a significant decrease in alcohol urge immediately after smoking cannabis, but not a consistent effect on a different measure of alcohol craving,” Metrik said. “This suggests that cannabis may not exert a uniform effect on alcohol motivation, and that other mechanisms may also explain how cannabis impacts subsequent alcohol use.”
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The study, which was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, was published last month in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Risks and limitations
The study did have limitations, the researchers acknowledged.
“The study tested only one cannabinoid (THC) in smoked cannabis, which means the results may not generalize to the wide range of cannabis products, formulations and other cannabinoids,” Metrik told Fox News Digital. “The study sample also consisted of individuals who used cannabis nearly every day, so those who use cannabis less often may show different alcohol-related behaviors.”
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The researchers also did not look at the effects of using cannabis and alcohol at the same time.
As the research was short-term and conducted in a “lab” setting, it’s unclear whether the reduced alcohol use would continue in the longer term or in real-world settings, they noted.
“In our controlled bar lab study, after people smoked cannabis, they drank about a quarter less alcohol over the next two hours,” the lead researcher said. (iStock)
The study results do not justify recommending cannabis as a substitute for alcohol among people with alcohol-use disorder, the researchers stated, as the long-term health effects and addiction risks for cannabis remain uncertain.
“It is important to understand that cannabis’ impact varies substantially across individuals,” Mitek said, noting that while the substance may reduce drinking in the short term, it also presents its own risks.
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“Our study is a first step, and we need more long-term research before drawing conclusions for public health,” she said. “We do not have clear evidence of long-term safety and efficacy of using cannabis as alcohol treatment. For now, I would not recommend using cannabis to cut down on alcohol use.”
For people who are already substituting cannabis for alcohol, Mitek recommends that they closely monitor their use and be aware of the risk of cannabis use disorder. She also “strongly encourages” them to consider evidence-based alcohol treatments.
Experts weigh in
Marcel Bonn-Miller, Ph.D., a cannabis researcher with Ajna BioSciences in Colorado, noted that the study highlights the current market trends, which show that alcohol sales have decreased significantly as THC has become more accessible.
“In our controlled bar lab study, after people smoked cannabis, they drank about a quarter less alcohol over the next two hours.”
“As many consumers report using THC beverages and other non-inhaled methods of administration as alternatives to alcohol, it would be important for future clinical trials to determine the effect of these formats on alcohol use behavior over time,” the researcher, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
Riana Durrett, director of the Cannabis Policy Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, praised the study’s “rigorous” design.
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“Overall, the experimental design is a rare feature in this area of research because it can be logistically difficult to give people cannabis in the lab (given its federal Schedule I status), so this is a really unique study,” Durrett, who was also not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
The results align with the “California sober” trend, where smoking cannabis may be a way to reduce other substance use, she noted.
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While some individuals have reported that cannabis has helped them recover from other substance use disorders, the effect hasn’t been tested extensively, according to Durrett.
While the study infers cannabis use does decrease alcohol use in a single session, the long-term effects of cannabis use on alcohol consumption are unknown. (iStock)
The expert agreed that while the study infers cannabis use does decrease alcohol use in a single session, there are some unknowns, including the long-term effects of cannabis use on alcohol consumption.
“So, it is still possible that in the longer term, cannabis use may be harmful for drinking outcomes,” she said. “We also don’t know the net effect of swapping out one substance (such as alcohol) for another (such as cannabis).”
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“It might be easy to believe that using cannabis instead of alcohol is a win, but we really don’t know if that is true or not from the current research.”
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Durrett added, “Hopefully, this study and similar ones can add tools to our toolkit on how to reduce problem drinking.”
Mitek noted that additional research is needed to evaluate “clinically relevant alcohol outcomes,” particularly among people who are seeking treatment for alcohol-use disorder.
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The rise of GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) has introduced new approaches to both weight loss and overall metabolic health.
Some users have found that microdosing, or taking the drug in small amounts, achieves the best health outcomes, but some experts warn against it.
In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Terry Dubrow, a plastic surgeon and TV personality based in Newport Beach, California, recommended that everyone takes a low daily dose, even if they don’t need to lose weight.
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“I am obsessed with the concept of microdosing,” he said. “I think maybe half the starting dose for diabetes is the way to go — and you probably don’t need it every seven days, it’s probably every 10 days, just to sort of modulate the amount of sugar in the blood.”
Microdosing GLP-1s could be more costly long-term, according to a bariatric surgeon. (iStock)
The approach has gained popularity on social media, as influencers and self-proclaimed “health gurus” have promoted it even for people without diabetes or obesity.
In a recent episode of the Full Send podcast, Bryan Johnson, a venture capitalist and online creator who aims to reverse aging and extend human lifespan, shared that he microdoses Ozempic.
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“There are some side effects. For example, the dose I’m on raises my resting heart rate by two or three beats, which is a big deal for me, but the benefits are great,” he said.
“GLP-1s are the first legit longevity drug,” he went on. “It’s an amazing drug … There’s just nothing that rivals its efficacy.”
“It’s an amazing drug … There’s just nothing that rivals its efficacy,” Bryan Johnson said about Ozempic. (iStock)
Johnson suggested that a future where most people are microdosing GLP-1s is “not too far off.”
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“I am as healthy as a person can be, and I still benefit from GLP-1s,” he said. “It has other metabolic effects, it has good neuroprotective effects.”
Despite these claims, some weight-loss experts find this approach to be not only more costly, but also less effective.
One longevity guru suggested that a future where most people are microdosing a GLP-1s is “not too far off.” (REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo)
Dr. Andre Teixeira, a bariatric surgeon with the Orlando Health Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery Institute, told Fox News Digital that microdosing is “truly dependent” on the individual.
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“The concern is there is no true protocol for it,” he said. “We do not do microdosing at our practice.”
While some people may think microdosing is cheaper, the doctor claims it can be “more expensive in the long run.”
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“[That’s] because you’re adjusting the dose and then not getting the full benefits of the medication,” he said. “I see people who get frustrated that they are not achieving the weight-loss goal they were hoping for because they are spreading out their doses.”
“The risk is that you’re not only playing with the potential benefits, but you’re also playing with the side effects, like nausea and vomiting.”
The expert recommends working closely with a healthcare provider before starting a GLP-1. “I do not encourage microdosing on your own,” he added.
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Fox News Digital reached out to GLP-1 drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Lilly for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.
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High-dose vitamin B3 (niacin) may enhance immune activity and improve short-term disease control in glioblastoma when added to standard therapy, according to early preclinical studies.
Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive, fast-growing brain cancer that develops from cells in the brain and spinal cord.
In previous laboratory experiments in mice, niacin was shown to extend survival. Researchers at the University of Calgary aimed to determine whether that same benefit extended to humans.
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The trials included 24 patients with glioblastoma, which has a median survival of roughly 12 to 18 months.
Six months after receiving niacin in addition to standard treatments (surgery, radiation and chemotherapy), 82% of the patients showed no disease progression, compared to the typical 54%, according to the study’s press release.
Left to right: Edward (Ed) Waldner (study participant), Dr. Wee Yong, PhD, (scientist), Dr. Gloria Roldan Urgoiti, MD, (oncologist) (Riley Brandt, University of Calgary)
Niacin was also found to restore function in weakened immune cells, improving their ability to target and destroy tumor cells.
The findings, including the 28% improvement in disease progression, were published in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology.
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“Normally, the immune system will try to counter and prevent tumor growth; however, this brain cancer suppresses the immune system,” said study author Dr. Wee Yong, PhD, a neuroscientist who studies immune responses in the brain, in the release. “Niacin treatment rejuvenates immune cells so they can do what they are supposed to do: attack and kill the cancer cells. I see it as an ongoing ‘battle for the brain.’”
Looking ahead, the team plans to enroll an additional 24 patients by the end of 2026 or early 2027 for the next phase of the trial, which will assess niacin’s safety and immune system activation.
Niacin was found to restore function in weakened immune cells, improving their ability to target and destroy tumor cells. (iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, noted that previous research has shown that vitamin B3 decreases inflammation and bolsters immune function.
“Vitamins, including vitamin B vitamins (especially niacin), are underrecognized as immune boosters,” the doctor, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
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Cautions and limitations
Despite the promising early results, the researchers urged caution.
“Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain cancer in adults. Survival of patients with this condition hasn’t changed significantly for 20 years,” said lead study author Roldan Urgoiti, a clinical associate professor at the CSM, in the release. “Anything that may help should be explored, but it requires strict protocols and safety monitoring.”
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The study’s small sample size, short follow-up and lack of a randomized control group also posed limitations, the researchers acknowledged.
The researchers cautioned that high doses of vitamins can pose health risks, and that usage should be monitored by doctors. (iStock)
Larger, controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings, they said.
The researchers also cautioned that high doses of vitamins can pose health risks, and that usage should be monitored by doctors.
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Siegel agreed that niacin does have some side effects, including skin blushing.
“There probably will end up being a small impact here, so this is useful information, though clearly not a cure,” he added.
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