Three distinct profiles of cannabis treatment patients predicted very different long-term outcomes | Research

The takeaway

A study of 2,055 cannabis use disorder outpatients identified three adherence/abstinence profiles, with 80% of high-adherence patients remaining relapse-free at two years versus only 24% of moderate-adherence patients.

Addiction treatment clinicians, substance abuse program designers, treatment outcome researchers

80% relapse-free at 2 years for high-adherence patients vs. 24.3% for moderate

What the researchers found

Latent profile analysis of 2,055 CUD outpatients revealed three groups: moderate abstinence/moderate adherence (n=997), high abstinence/moderate adherence (n=613), and high abstinence/high adherence (n=445). The high abstinence/high adherence group had 80% relapse-free rates at two years, compared to 24.3% in the moderate/moderate group. Education level, employment status, and substance use patterns at treatment entry differed significantly across profiles.

Why it matters

Identifying which patients will struggle early in treatment could allow clinicians to intervene before dropout occurs, rather than waiting for treatment failure.

The numbers in context

2,055 outpatients; 3 profiles identified; 80% relapse-free at 2 years in high adherence group; 24.3% relapse-free in moderate group; education chi2(8)=121.70, p<.001

How the study worked

Retrospective observational study of 2,055 CUD outpatients beginning treatment at multiple sites. Latent profile analysis was conducted on appointment attendance ratio and percentage of negative cannabis tests. Two-year follow-up monitored relapse outcomes.

What this study cannot tell us

Retrospective design. Profile membership was determined post-hoc, limiting prospective prediction. Treatment approaches across sites may have varied. Self-selection into treatment limits generalizability to untreated populations.

How to read the evidence

Large multisite sample with two-year follow-up and robust latent profile methodology, though retrospective design limits causal conclusions.

When this study was published

Published 2023

The bigger picture

Treatment for cannabis use disorder is not one-size-fits-all. Early indicators like education level and consumption patterns at intake could help clinicians identify patients who need more intensive support from the start.

Questions still open

Could early identification of profile membership guide treatment intensity adjustments? Would more intensive early intervention shift moderate-adherence patients into better trajectories?

Common questions

Can treatment adherence patterns predict cannabis recovery success?

Yes. This study found three distinct profiles among 2,055 patients, with the most adherent group showing 80% relapse-free rates at two years, compared to just 24% in the least adherent group.

What predicts which treatment profile a patient falls into?

Education level, employment status, and substance use patterns at the start of treatment differed significantly across profiles, suggesting these early indicators could help identify patients needing more support.

Read the original research

Monitoring adherence and abstinence of cannabis use disorder patients: Profile identification and relationship with long-term treatment outcomes.

Journal of substance use and addiction treatment, 148, 209019

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Dacosta-Sánchez, Daniel; Fernández-Calderón, Fermín; Blanc-Molina, Andrea; Díaz-Batanero, Carmen; Lozano, Oscar M. (2023). Monitoring adherence and abstinence of cannabis use disorder patients: Profile identification and relationship with long-term treatment outcomes.. Journal of substance use and addiction treatment, 148, 209019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2023.209019