Teens quitting cannabis experienced a brief sleep disruption that resolved within two weeks
Adolescents randomized to four weeks of cannabis abstinence experienced a transient increase in time to fall asleep during the first week, but sleep returned to baseline by week four.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
In a randomized trial of 116 adolescents, those assigned to verified abstinence reported worse overall sleep quality than the monitoring group, but the disruption was specific to increased sleep latency during week one, which resolved by week two and remained at baseline through week four.
Key Numbers
116 adolescents (mean age 17.8, 47% female, 45% non-white); sleep latency increased during week 1 (d=0.34, P=0.04); decreased during week 2 (d=0.36, P=0.04); overall PSQI difference 1.06 points (P=0.01)
How They Did This
Randomized trial of 116 non-treatment-seeking adolescents (mean age 17.8) with frequent cannabis use. Assigned to 4 weeks of biochemically verified abstinence with contingency management (n=53) or monitoring without abstinence requirement (n=63). Sleep measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
Why This Research Matters
Sleep disruption is one of the most common reasons young people cite for resuming cannabis use after trying to quit. Knowing that the disruption is brief and specific could help clinicians support adolescents through the withdrawal period.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis withdrawal in adolescents appears to produce a narrower and more transient sleep disruption than often reported in adults, suggesting the developing brain may adapt differently to abstinence.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Relied on self-reported sleep measures rather than objective polysomnography. Non-treatment-seeking sample may not represent adolescents motivated to quit. Contingency management payments may have influenced reported outcomes.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would objective sleep measures confirm the self-reported patterns?
- ?Could targeted sleep interventions during week one improve abstinence rates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Sleep disruption resolved by week 2 of abstinence
- Evidence Grade:
- Randomized trial with biochemical verification of abstinence, though reliance on self-reported sleep measures and non-treatment-seeking sample are limitations.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023
- Original Title:
- Assessing changes in sleep across four weeks among adolescents randomized to incentivized cannabis abstinence.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 252, 110989 (2023)
- Authors:
- Baumer, Andreas M(2), Nestor, Bridget A(2), Potter, Kevin(7), Knoll, Sarah, Evins, A Eden, Gilman, Jodi, Kossowsky, Joe, Schuster, Randi M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04405
Evidence Hierarchy
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups to test cause and effect.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does quitting cannabis affect sleep in teenagers?
Yes, but the effect was brief. Teens randomized to abstinence had more trouble falling asleep during the first week, but their sleep returned to baseline by week two and remained stable through week four.
What type of sleep problem occurred?
The disruption was specific to sleep latency, meaning it took longer to fall asleep. Other aspects of sleep quality were not significantly affected.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04405APA
Baumer, Andreas M; Nestor, Bridget A; Potter, Kevin; Knoll, Sarah; Evins, A Eden; Gilman, Jodi; Kossowsky, Joe; Schuster, Randi M. (2023). Assessing changes in sleep across four weeks among adolescents randomized to incentivized cannabis abstinence.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 252, 110989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110989
MLA
Baumer, Andreas M, et al. "Assessing changes in sleep across four weeks among adolescents randomized to incentivized cannabis abstinence.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110989
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Assessing changes in sleep across four weeks among adolescen..." RTHC-04405. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/baumer-2023-assessing-changes-in-sleep
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.