Cue Reactivity for Marijuana and Tobacco Use

(MATEY Trial)

This trial seeks to understand how young adults who smoke both marijuana and tobacco respond to various cues, such as everyday items or smoking-related objects. It aims to examine how price and availability influence smoking habits. Participants will encounter these cues and answer questions about their feelings. Ideal candidates are young adults who have smoked both marijuana and tobacco regularly for at least the past six months. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants a unique opportunity to contribute to important research on smoking behaviors and influences.

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It mainly focuses on your use of marijuana and tobacco.

Research shows that exposure to marijuana- or tobacco-related cues, known as cue reactivity, is generally well-tolerated. Studies indicate that people often experience increased cravings and sometimes slight anxiety when exposed to these cues. For instance, one study found that seeing marijuana-related items increased cravings, anxiety, and blood pressure, with cravings lasting up to 150 minutes after exposure.

These reactions are common and typically short-lived, representing a normal response to reminders of substances like marijuana or tobacco. Studies have not reported any long-term or harmful effects from these sessions. Participants usually rate their cravings on a simple scale, aiding researchers in understanding reactions in a controlled setting.

Researchers are excited about the Cue Reactivity approach for marijuana and tobacco use because it offers a unique method to explore how environmental triggers influence cravings and usage behaviors. Unlike typical treatments that often rely on medications or behavioral therapy to curb use, this approach uses exposure to specific cues, like everyday items and cannabis-related objects, to understand the psychological and physiological responses. By gaining insights into these reactions, researchers hope to develop more targeted interventions that can effectively manage and reduce substance use by addressing the underlying triggers.

Research has shown that exposure to reminders of cannabis or tobacco can alter reactions to these substances. In this trial, participants will first encounter neutral cues, followed by cannabis or tobacco cues, while answering questions about their subjective state. One study found that smokers reacted more strongly to cannabis-related cues than non-smokers. This suggests that seeing or thinking about smoking can heighten cravings or reactions in individuals who use both cannabis and tobacco. Another study found that using both substances together could affect memory. Overall, these findings suggest that understanding responses to these reminders might help manage cravings for cannabis and tobacco.¹²⁶⁷⁸