19 - Alcohol Vs Cannabis: Kyla de Clifford.

In this solo episode of Canna Curious, Kyla gets personal about grief, self-care, and the choices we make when life gets heavy. She unpacks one of the oldest debates: alcohol versus cannabis.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy alcohol is responsible for 2.6 million deaths a year globally, while cannabis has zero overdose deathsrecorded.How cannabis-related harms are often tied to polydrug use or accidents, not toxicity alone.The gender double standard: wine marketed as “self-care,” cannabis framed as “irresponsible.”How alcohol worsens hot flushes, mood swings, and sleep in perimenopause — while cannabis may support relief.Key Takeaways:Alcohol is normalised but deadly. WHO reports show millions of deaths annually.Cannabis carries risks but far fewer. And no deaths from toxicity alone.Context and gender matter. Women are pushed toward alcohol, even though it worsens health outcomes in midlife.Narrative is everything. Stigma has shaped laws and culture more than evidence ever has.Statistics:Breakdown of Cannabis-Related Deaths in Australia (2000–2018)This comes from a retrospective review of coronial records via Australia’s National Coronial Information System, as reported by Emma Zahra and colleagues at NDARC, UNSW SydneyManner of Deaths (out of total 559 cases):Accidental injury: 29.9% (~30%)Suicide: 25.0%Polysubstance toxicity (i.e., cannabis plus other substances): 17.0%Natural disease: 16.1%Natural disease plus drug effect/toxicity: 7.9%Assault: 3.0%Unascertained (unknown): 1.1%Cannabis toxicity alone: 0%—no deaths were attributed solely to cannabis toxicityPolydrug InvolvementIn 81.4% of cases, other drugs were noted alongside cannabis in the cause of death citations.The most frequent co-detected drug was alcohol, appearing in 47.2% of these casesResources & ReferencesZahra E., Darke S., Degenhardt L., Campbell G. Rates, characteristics and manner of cannabis-related deaths in Australia 2000–2018. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2020.World Health Organization (2024). Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health."Send us a message"Support the showConnect with Kyla de CliffordInstagram: @cannacuriousausTikTok: @cannacuriousauYouTube: @cannacuriousIf you enjoyed this episode, please follow, share, and leave a review - it helps the podcast reach more curious minds just like you.Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.ioDisclaimer:We are not doctors, and this is not medical advice. Everything shared here is based on our personal lived experiences and the stories of others. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.