Tobacco and Alcohol: Understanding Co-Use to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality

Source:

U.S. National Cancer Institute. Tobacco and Alcohol: Understanding Co-Use to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality. National Cancer Institute Tobacco Control Monograph 24. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute; 2026.

The use of both tobacco and alcohol products—known as “co-use”—is common, and there is strong correlation between dependence on tobacco and alcohol. In addition to each causing cancer individually, the co-use of tobacco and alcohol is associated with synergistically higher risk of head and neck and esophageal cancers, and potentially with cancer at other sites. This monograph highlights the importance of addressing co-use of tobacco and alcohol for cancer prevention and health promotion goals. Designed to inform researchers, clinicians, public health practitioners, and the public, this monograph summarizes the most recent evidence and effective practices related to addressing tobacco and alcohol co-use and identifies research gaps related to these topics.