Stopping daily cannabis during lockdown coincided with increased benzodiazepine use in a survey

A French survey found a co-occurring pattern that cannot by itself establish substitution or withdrawal treatment.

The reported association

The web-based CANNAVID survey included 4,019 daily cannabis users during the first French lockdown. Participants reported whether cannabis use stopped, decreased, remained stable, or increased. Those reporting cessation were more likely than stable users to report increased benzodiazepine use and increased pain.

The study captured recalled changes and associated characteristics. It did not assign cannabis cessation or observe the purpose of each benzodiazepine exposure prospectively.

Co-occurrence is not a confirmed pathway

Increased benzodiazepine use might reflect distress, sleep problems, treatment, availability, or other factors. The survey cannot establish that the medicine replaced cannabis, treated withdrawal, or was taken simultaneously with another substance. Online recruitment also limits representativeness.

For a case assessment, obtain dates, indication, source, and actual use rather than inferring them from a group-level association. The paper supports attention to changing polysubstance patterns during disruption, while leaving individual mechanisms uncertain.

Source paper

Original analysis of the supplied journal article, identified as PMC8922077.

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