Young cannabis users experienced withdrawal symptoms that peaked in the first week of quitting | Research

The takeaway

In a 3-week monitored abstinence study, non-treatment-seeking young cannabis users showed withdrawal symptoms peaking in the first week then declining, with mood and sleep problems persisting throughout.

Young cannabis users considering quitting, clinicians supporting cessation, and researchers studying cannabis withdrawal.

Withdrawal peaked in week 1 then declined through week 3

What the researchers found

Cannabis-using participants (n=37) reported higher overall withdrawal, mood symptoms, and sleep problems than controls (n=42) during 3 weeks of verified abstinence. Total and sleep-related withdrawal showed a quadratic trajectory: increasing from baseline in week 1, then decreasing in weeks 2-3. By study end, sleep quality differences had resolved.

Why it matters

This is one of the few studies to monitor cannabis withdrawal in non-treatment-seeking young users with biological verification. The finding that symptoms peak early and decline supports targeted intervention during the critical first week of abstinence.

The numbers in context

37 cannabis users and 42 controls. Withdrawal symptoms peaked in week 1 (quadratic trajectory). Mood symptoms higher throughout (p=0.006). Sleep-related withdrawal higher (p=0.04). No significant anxiety differences (p=0.07). Sleep quality equalized by study end.

How the study worked

Prospective study of 79 adolescent and young adult participants (37 cannabis users, 42 controls) undergoing 3 weeks of confirmed abstinence via urine and sweat patch toxicology. Withdrawal, anxiety, depression, and sleep assessed across the period.

What this study cannot tell us

Moderate sample size. Community sample may have lighter use patterns than clinical populations. Three weeks may not capture the full withdrawal resolution for all symptoms.

How to read the evidence

Moderate: biologically verified abstinence with control group, but moderate sample size and single site.

When this study was published

Published in 2022.

The bigger picture

Many young cannabis users do not realize they will experience withdrawal when stopping. Understanding the timeline helps set realistic expectations and plan support during the most difficult first week.

Questions still open

Would heavier users show more prolonged withdrawal? Why did anxiety not differ significantly between groups? Could targeted sleep support during the first week improve abstinence success?

Common questions

How long did withdrawal last?

Withdrawal symptoms increased in the first week, then began decreasing in weeks 2 and 3. By the end of the study, sleep quality had equalized between groups, though some mood symptoms persisted.

Were these treatment-seeking participants?

No. These were community-recruited (non-treatment-seeking) cannabis users, making the findings more relevant to recreational users who decide to stop on their own.

What was the most persistent symptom?

Mood symptoms (depression) were significantly higher in the cannabis group throughout the 3-week period, even after controlling for alcohol and nicotine use.

Read the original research

Assessment of Withdrawal, Mood, and Sleep Inventories After Monitored 3-Week Abstinence in Cannabis-Using Adolescents and Young Adults.

Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 7(5), 690-699

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Sullivan, Ryan M; Wallace, Alexander L; Stinson, Elizabeth A; Montoto, Karina V; Kaiver, Christine M; Wade, Natasha E; Lisdahl, Krista M. (2022). Assessment of Withdrawal, Mood, and Sleep Inventories After Monitored 3-Week Abstinence in Cannabis-Using Adolescents and Young Adults.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 7(5), 690-699. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2021.0074