Teens quitting cannabis experienced a brief sleep disruption that resolved within two weeks | Research

The takeaway

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.

Adolescent health specialists, addiction counselors, parents

Sleep disruption resolved by week 2 of abstinence

What the researchers 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.

Why it 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 numbers in context

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 the study worked

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.

What this study cannot 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.

How to read the evidence

Randomized trial with biochemical verification of abstinence, though reliance on self-reported sleep measures and non-treatment-seeking sample are limitations.

When this study was published

Published 2023

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.

Questions still open

Would objective sleep measures confirm the self-reported patterns? Could targeted sleep interventions during week one improve abstinence rates?

Common 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.

Read the original research

Assessing changes in sleep across four weeks among adolescents randomized to incentivized cannabis abstinence.

Drug and alcohol dependence, 252, 110989

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

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