How People with Psychosis Quit Cannabis on Their Own | Research

The takeaway

Young adults with psychosis who quit cannabis naturally cited awareness of harm across multiple life areas, social support, multiple coping strategies, and the ability to resist peer pressure as key factors.

Read this if you have psychosis and want to quit cannabis, or work with people in this situation.

Started cannabis at 13.7 years; daily by 17; quit naturally by 23

What the researchers found

Researchers interviewed 10 young adults (mean age 23) with early psychosis who had quit cannabis without formal treatment, averaging nearly 8 months of abstinence. Most had started cannabis at age 13.7 and progressed to daily use by age 17.

Three main themes emerged for sustaining cessation: recognizing the negative impact of cannabis across multiple life domains (not just psychosis), having social support specifically for quitting, and using a combination of coping strategies rather than relying on a single approach.

Resisting peer pressure was commonly mentioned as critical. Participants who maintained abstinence had actively restructured their social environments to reduce exposure to cannabis-using peers.

Why it matters

Most research focuses on formal treatment programs, but many people quit cannabis on their own. Understanding natural recovery in people with psychosis can inform treatment design by identifying what actually helps people maintain change.

The numbers in context

10 participants (6 men, 4 women); mean age 23; cannabis onset age 13.7; daily use by age 17; mean abstinence 7.9 months

How the study worked

Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 10 people with early psychosis and lifetime cannabis misuse who had been abstinent for at least one month. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified themes.

What this study cannot tell us

Very small qualitative sample. Self-selected participants who successfully quit may not represent those who struggle. Only captured one month minimum of abstinence. No long-term follow-up to confirm sustained cessation.

How to read the evidence

Small qualitative study providing rich descriptive data about natural recovery but limited generalizability.

When this study was published

Published in 2015. Understanding of cannabis cessation in psychosis has continued to develop.

The bigger picture

Natural recovery from cannabis use in psychosis suggests that formal treatment programs should emphasize the same factors: broadening awareness of harms beyond psychosis symptoms, building diverse coping skills, and restructuring social networks.

Questions still open

What distinguishes people who achieve natural recovery from those who relapse? Would targeted interventions addressing these themes improve outcomes? Is peer pressure management the most important factor?

Common questions

Can people with psychosis quit cannabis on their own?

Yes. These 10 participants did so, averaging nearly 8 months of abstinence. Their success was linked to recognizing harms, having support, using multiple coping strategies, and managing peer pressure.

What was the most important factor in quitting?

No single factor was sufficient. Participants emphasized that awareness of harm across multiple life areas (not just mental health), combined with social support and practical coping strategies, was needed for sustained change.

Read the original research

Natural Recovery From Cannabis Use in People With Psychosis: A Qualitative Study.

Journal of dual diagnosis, 11(3-4), 179-83

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Rebgetz, Shane; Hides, Leanne; Kavanagh, David J; Choudhary, Anand. (2015). Natural Recovery From Cannabis Use in People With Psychosis: A Qualitative Study.. Journal of dual diagnosis, 11(3-4), 179-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2015.1100472