Three distinct profiles of cannabis treatment patients predicted very different long-term outcomes
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research Matters
Identifying which patients will struggle early in treatment could allow clinicians to intervene before dropout occurs, rather than waiting for treatment failure.
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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?Could early identification of profile membership guide treatment intensity adjustments?
- ?Would more intensive early intervention shift moderate-adherence patients into better trajectories?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 80% relapse-free at 2 years for high-adherence patients vs. 24.3% for moderate
- Evidence Grade:
- Large multisite sample with two-year follow-up and robust latent profile methodology, though retrospective design limits causal conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023
- Original Title:
- Monitoring adherence and abstinence of cannabis use disorder patients: Profile identification and relationship with long-term treatment outcomes.
- Published In:
- Journal of substance use and addiction treatment, 148, 209019 (2023)
- Authors:
- Dacosta-Sánchez, Daniel(2), Fernández-Calderón, Fermín(2), Blanc-Molina, Andrea, Díaz-Batanero, Carmen, Lozano, Oscar M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04479
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked 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 More on RethinkTHC
- 30-days-without-weed
- 420-sober-survival-guide
- 6-months-sober-weed-what-to-expect
- 90-days-no-weed
- CBT-cannabis-recovery
- benefits-of-quitting-weed
- boredom-after-quitting-weed
- boredom-after-quitting-weed-nothing-fun
- cannabis-dependence-physical-psychological-addiction-science
- cannabis-perception-vs-evidence-gap
- cannabis-relapse-cycle-pattern
- cannabis-use-disorder-test
- cold-turkey-vs-taper-quit-weed
- creativity-without-weed-quitting-artist-musician
- cross-addiction-quit-weed-start-drinking
- dating-sober-after-quitting-weed
- exercise-quitting-weed-anxiety-brain
- grieving-quitting-weed-loss
- help-someone-quit-weed
- hobbies-after-quitting-weed
- how-to-quit-weed
- identity-after-quitting-weed
- is-weed-addictive
- is-weed-addictive-science
- journaling-weed-withdrawal
- leaving-stoner-culture-identity
- marijuana-anonymous-SMART-recovery-compare
- meditation-mindfulness-weed-withdrawal
- money-saved-quitting-weed-calculator
- one-year-sober-weed
- partner-still-smokes-weed
- partner-still-smokes-weed-quitting
- pink-cloud-sobriety-cannabis
- quit-weed-cold-turkey
- quit-weed-or-cut-back-which-is-better
- quit-weed-regret-went-back
- quitting-weed-20s
- quitting-weed-30s
- quitting-weed-after-years
- quitting-weed-and-alcohol
- quitting-weed-creativity
- quitting-weed-during-crisis-divorce-job-loss
- quitting-weed-exercise
- quitting-weed-face-changes-skin
- quitting-weed-grief-loss-coping
- quitting-weed-legal-state
- quitting-weed-success-stories
- quitting-weed-triggers-environment
- quitting-weed-weight-loss-gain
- rehab-for-weed-addiction-necessary
- relapsed-smoking-weed-what-to-do
- relapsed-weed
- should-i-quit-weed
- signs-of-cannabis-use-disorder
- sober-music-festival-concert-without-weed
- supplements-weed-withdrawal
- telling-friends-quitting-weed
- weed-relapse-prevention-plan
- weed-relapse-why-it-happens
- weed-ritual-replacement
- weed-ruined-relationships
- weed-social-media-triggers-quit
- weed-vape-pen-addiction
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04479APA
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
MLA
Dacosta-Sánchez, Daniel, et al. "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, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2023.209019
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Monitoring adherence and abstinence of cannabis use disorder..." RTHC-04479. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/dacosta-sanchez-2023-monitoring-adherence-and-abstinence
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.