How marijuana use can increase the chances of a breakthrough in COVID-19

Many of us are too cautious about COVID-19, even if we have been vaccinated. This is mainly because we are hearing more and more about breakthrough cases of the virus. And now heavy marijuana users need to worry even more.

A new study published in the journal World Psychiatry and led by researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) looked at groundbreaking COVID-19 cases in people diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD), including marijuana .

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Participants who coped with a marijuana abuse disorder were more likely to have breakthrough COVID-19 infections, with researchers speculating that this was due to the drug’s effects on the lungs or, less commonly, the immune system.

“Patients with cannabis use disorder who were younger and had fewer comorbidities than the other SUD subtypes were at greater risk of a breakthrough infection even after being matched against non-SUD patients for negative socio-economic determinants of health and comorbid conditions,” put the. firmly researcher. “Additional variables, such as behavioral factors or negative effects of cannabis on lung and immune function, could contribute to a higher risk of a breakthrough infection in this group.”

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The study reflected some other recent findings, such as the fact that the Moderna vaccine offers more protection than the Pfizer vaccine, with participants who received the latter vaccine being more likely to have a breakthrough in COVID-19.

Cannabis use disorders are a complex issue that many do not believe that marijuana use could lead to addiction, at least not when compared to other addictive substances such as alcohol or drugs, which are deadly. Still, from a COVID-19 perspective, marijuana use carries some risks that other drugs don’t, especially when it comes to lung damage. To a lesser extent, tobacco addicts were also more likely to have had a breakthrough in COVID-19.

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Heavy cannabis users often report withdrawal symptoms when they stop or reduce their use of the plant. These include anxiety, anger, insomnia, loss of appetite, restlessness, depression, and even physical reactions such as headaches and vomiting.