Veterans with PTSD used more cannabis at baseline and were slower to cut back after a quit attempt | Research

The takeaway

Among 104 cannabis-dependent veterans, PTSD did not predict faster relapse, but those with PTSD used more cannabis at the start and reduced their use more slowly after quitting.

Read this if you're a veteran with PTSD trying to cut back on cannabis.

PTSD slowed early cannabis reduction but did not predict relapse

What the researchers found

Researchers followed 104 cannabis-dependent veterans through a self-guided quit attempt, assessing them weekly for the first month and then monthly through 6 months. Veterans with PTSD used more cannabis at baseline and showed a slower initial decline in use following their quit attempt.

However, PTSD diagnosis was not associated with the time to first lapse (any use after quitting) or the time to full relapse (return to regular use). The slower reduction pattern occurred even after accounting for alcohol and tobacco use, as well as co-occurring mood and anxiety disorders.

The findings suggest that PTSD does not necessarily make quitting cannabis harder in terms of relapse timing, but it does affect the trajectory of reduction, meaning veterans with PTSD may need more intensive early support.

Why it matters

Understanding how PTSD affects cannabis cessation patterns helps tailor treatment approaches. The finding that PTSD slows early reduction without accelerating relapse suggests a window for targeted intervention during the first weeks of a quit attempt.

The numbers in context

104 veterans studied. Mean age 50.9 years. PTSD was associated with higher baseline cannabis use and slower initial decline. PTSD was not associated with time to first lapse or relapse. Results held after controlling for alcohol, tobacco, mood, and anxiety disorders.

How the study worked

Prospective cohort study of 104 predominantly male, cannabis-dependent US veterans (mean age 50.9). Assessments occurred before a self-guided quit attempt, weekly for 4 weeks, and monthly through 6 months. Analyses controlled for alcohol and tobacco use and co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses.

What this study cannot tell us

Self-guided quit attempt without structured treatment may not reflect outcomes with professional support. Predominantly male veteran sample limits generalizability. Cannabis use was self-reported. The relatively older sample (mean age 51) may not reflect younger veteran populations.

How to read the evidence

Prospective cohort study with 6 months of follow-up and statistical controls for confounders, but no randomized treatment condition.

When this study was published

Published in 2015 using data from US veterans.

The bigger picture

Veterans with PTSD represent a large population with high rates of cannabis dependence. This study provides nuanced evidence that PTSD affects the pattern of quitting rather than making quitting impossible, which supports developing PTSD-specific cessation strategies rather than treating PTSD as a barrier.

Questions still open

Would intensive early support during the first weeks after quitting improve outcomes for veterans with PTSD? Does treating PTSD symptoms directly accelerate cannabis reduction? Would these patterns differ in a younger veteran cohort?

Common questions

Does PTSD make it harder to quit cannabis?

In this study, veterans with PTSD did not relapse faster, but they used more cannabis at the start and were slower to reduce their use in the early weeks after quitting. This suggests PTSD affects the pace of reduction rather than the ability to quit.

What kind of help do veterans with PTSD need to quit cannabis?

The findings suggest that veterans with PTSD may benefit from more intensive support during the early phase of a quit attempt, when their reduction in use is slower compared to veterans without PTSD.

Read the original research

The impact of posttraumatic stress disorder on cannabis quit success.

The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 41(4), 339-44

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Bonn-Miller, Marcel O; Moos, Rudolf H; Boden, Matthew Tyler; Long, W Robert; Kimerling, Rachel; Trafton, Jodie A. (2015). The impact of posttraumatic stress disorder on cannabis quit success.. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 41(4), 339-44. https://doi.org/10.3109/00952990.2015.1043209