New research from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine reveals that people with cannabis use disorder face more than triple the risk of developing oral cancer within five years. Furthermore, the study analysed electronic health records from over 45,000 patients and found that cannabis linked to oral cancer represents a significant health concern.

Study Findings

Specifically, Dr Raphael Cuomo, associate professor in the Department of Anaesthesiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine, led the research examining 949 patients diagnosed with cannabis use disorder. Moreover, the results, published in Preventive Medicine Reports, showed that after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and smoking status, people with cannabis use disorder had a 325 per cent higher likelihood of contracting oral cancer within five years.

Additionally, the risk proved even more pronounced among tobacco smokers. Those who smoked tobacco and had cannabis use disorder were 624 per cent more likely to develop oral cancer compared to tobacco smokers without the disorder.

Cannabis Smoke Concerns

“Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco smoke, which have known damaging effects on the epithelial tissue that lines the mouth,” Cuomo explained. Subsequently, he added that “These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic or problematic cannabis use may contribute to cancer risk in tissues exposed to combustion products.”

However, the research suggests that oral cancer development may involve factors beyond smoke inhalation alone. For instance, THC, cannabis’s active compound, is known to have immune-suppressing effects, which may contribute to increased cancer risk even when controlling for smoking status.

Growing Cannabis Usage

The study’s relevance has increased significantly as cannabis becomes more widely available and socially accepted. In 2022, 17.7 million people reported daily or near-daily cannabis use. Though cannabis use disorder requires a formal diagnosis and not all cannabis users develop the condition, recent research suggests that as many as three in ten cannabis users will develop the disorder.

While many consider cannabis safer than other substances such as tobacco and alcohol, significant unknowns remain about the health impacts of cannabis use. The connection between cannabis use and oral cancer represents one area where scientific understanding continues to develop.

Clinical Implications

Consequently, the research has immediate implications for cancer screening practices and public health messaging. Therefore, the findings emphasise the need for healthcare providers to consider cannabis use disorder when assessing oral cancer risk factors and developing screening protocols.

As a result, oral cancer screening for cannabis users may need to become a routine consideration for healthcare providers treating patients with problematic cannabis use patterns. Indeed, the study suggests that current screening practices may not adequately account for the elevated risk faced by this population.

Research Limitations

However, scientists acknowledge that more research is needed to fully explain the association between cannabis use and oral cancer development. Furthermore, the study did not examine the specific methods of cannabis consumption or distinguish between different types of cannabis products, which may have varying risk profiles.

Similarly, the research also did not establish whether the oral cancer risk from cannabis use varies based on the frequency, duration, or intensity of cannabis use among those diagnosed with cannabis use disorder.

Public Health Implications

Ultimately, the study’s results encourage updating screening practices for oral cancer and integrating oral health awareness into substance use disorder treatment and counselling programmes. Subsequently, healthcare providers may need to reassess their approach to discussing cancer risks with patients who use cannabis regularly.

In addition, the findings contribute to ongoing discussions about cannabis safety as legalisation expands across various jurisdictions. Therefore, understanding the full spectrum of health risks associated with cannabis use becomes increasingly important as more people gain access to the substance.

Treatment Considerations

Consequently, the study suggests that oral cancer prevention amongst cannabis users should become part of comprehensive substance use disorder treatment approaches. As a result, healthcare providers treating cannabis use disorder may need to incorporate regular oral health monitoring and cancer screening into their standard care protocols.

Additionally, the study’s findings also highlight the importance of evidence-based discussions about cannabis risks between healthcare providers and patients, particularly those using cannabis frequently or showing signs of problematic use patterns.

Finally, the research, which reported no external funding or conflicts of interest, represents an important step in understanding the long-term health consequences as cannabis linked to oral cancer becomes an established medical concern and the substance becomes increasingly mainstream across society.

Source: Today