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Sex and Gender Differences in Simultaneous Alcohol and Cannabis Use: a Narrative Review

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The aim is to review recent literature on sex and gender differences in patterns of use, motives, pharmacological effects, and consequences of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use (SAC).

Recent Findings

Men engage in SAC more frequently than women. Women may have more substance-specific motives for use, while men tend to consistently endorse social/enhancement motives for both alcohol and cannabis. Regarding pharmacological effects, women experience the same subjective effects as men do at lower levels of use, with some evidence that women modulate cannabis use during simultaneous use episodes to avoid greater subjective intoxication. Finally, women appear more vulnerable to experiencing a range of positive and negative consequences from SAC relative to men.

Summary

Research has identified several important sex/gender differences in SAC and its correlates and consequences. However, research has primarily focused on white and cisgender populations, with a need for more research among racial/ethnic and gender minorities.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Funding

Effort was supported by National Institutes of Health grants from the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the Office of Research on Women’s Health (U54 DA016511, R01 DA054617, T32 DA007288, T32 DA019426, K24 DA038240).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, MSC 864, 67 President Street, Charleston, SC, 29425-8610, USA

    Rachel L. Tomko, Kathryn S. Gex, Christal N. Davis, Anna E. Kirkland, Lindsay M. Squeglia, Julianne C. Flanagan, Kevin M. Gray & Aimee L. McRae-Clark

  2. Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA

    Christal N. Davis, Julianne C. Flanagan & Aimee L. McRae-Clark

  3. Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    Christal N. Davis

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Melissa R. Schick

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Correspondence to Rachel L. Tomko.

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This article is a review and therefore did not include any studies with human or animal subjects.

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Rachel Tomko has provided consultation to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Kevin Gray has provided consultation to Jazz Pharmaceuticals and has received research support from Aelis Farma, and Aimee McRae-Clark has received research support from Pleo Pharma. The other authors have no relationships to disclose.

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Tomko, R.L., Gex, K.S., Davis, C.N. et al. Sex and Gender Differences in Simultaneous Alcohol and Cannabis Use: a Narrative Review. Curr Addict Rep 10, 628–637 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-023-00513-3

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