Explore published research on quitting, including study methods and limitations.
Among 1,481 heavy smokers trying to quit with nicotine patches, marijuana users had half the odds of success. Early lapse (3+ cigarettes in first 4 weeks) predicted relapse in 96%.
Among 75 marijuana users who lapsed after treatment, those who blamed themselves and saw the cause as permanent and pervasive were more likely to return to regular use over six months.
Self-efficacy for avoiding marijuana predicted frequency of post-treatment use better than complete abstinence. Cognitive-behavioral treatment only marginally improved confidence.
Among vocational high school students, 65% were heavy smokers by age 13, with strong associations with alcohol and marijuana use, poor grades, and multiple failed quit attempts.
In 199 smokers trying to quit, alcohol use predicted failure at all follow-up points. Marijuana use, whether at baseline or during treatment, did not predict smoking cessation outcomes.
31% of 566 adolescent marijuana users at alternative high schools quit within one year. Peer disapproval of drugs and negative personal attitudes about use predicted quitting.
Among 842 high-risk students, 70% used marijuana, over half had tried to quit and failed, and most viewed cessation programs as ineffective despite high interest in quitting.
Review finding that smoking cessation did not increase relapse to other substances and continued smoking actually worsened marijuana treatment outcomes, supporting integrated treatment.
Early case series: vomiting stopped in most after stopping cannabis and returned on rechallenge, with hot bathing reported by nearly all.
Qualitative study finding Scottish teenagers' cannabis and tobacco smoking were "inextricably linked," with cannabis use serving as a gateway to cigarettes and a barrier to quitting tobacco.
5-year follow-up finding 42% of teen marijuana users quit, with heavier use, male gender, being unmarried, and friends' use predicting continued consumption.
Study of adolescent cannabis treatment seekers found nearly two-thirds experienced four or more withdrawal symptoms, though rates were lower than in adult studies.
Vouchers drove abstinence during treatment. Adding CBT helped keep it going over the next year.
Among 1,779 adolescents in substance abuse treatment, those who continued or started smoking cigarettes had significantly higher odds of relapsing on marijuana and alcohol at 12 months.
In a 12-week trial of 50 marijuana-dependent participants, buspirone showed a non-significant trend toward more negative drug tests overall, but a significant effect among those who completed treatment.
A systematic review found only 7 RCTs on treating cannabis use in psychosis/depression, with preliminary evidence supporting medication treatment of the primary disorder and longer psychological interventions.
Adolescent cannabis users showed memory recovery after 2-3 weeks of abstinence but attention accuracy remained impaired, suggesting different recovery timelines for different cognitive functions.
In 6 cannabis users, nabilone produced THC-like subjective effects and substituted for THC in drug discrimination, while methylphenidate did not, supporting nabilone as a potential cannabis dependence medication.
Among 432 male veterans, less PTSD improvement during treatment predicted greater cannabis use at 4 months, specifically linked to avoidance/numbing and hyperarousal symptoms.
Case report tracked executive function from 24 hours to 12 weeks of cannabis abstinence, showing progressive cognitive improvement with clinical implications for treatment.
First agonist substitution trial for cannabis dependence: dronabinol did not increase abstinence but improved retention (77% vs 61%) and reduced withdrawal symptoms.
Inpatient study found blood pressure increases up to 22.8 mmHg systolic when daily cannabis users stopped, with a subset showing potentially dangerous elevations.
Review finding buspirone was the only medication with controlled trial evidence for cannabis dependence, with several others warranting further study.
In 49 dependent users, greater day-to-day disruption from withdrawal was linked to relapse and to heavier use one month later.
Review finding combination therapies (motivational + cognitive-behavioral + incentives) most effective for cannabis dependence, though long-term abstinence remains below 20%.
In 739 smokers, marijuana use did not affect quitting success, while alcohol use after quitting increased smoking urges and relapse risk.
Open-label pilot of pericyazine for cannabis dependence showed reduced use and improved mood in 21 patients, warranting a randomized controlled trial.
Largest early CH series: frequent long-term use common, abdominal pain prevalent, 91 percent of those who tried hot bathing reported relief. Follow-up was scarce.
Veterans with poor perceived sleep quality reduced their cannabis use less during a 6-month quit attempt, even after accounting for PTSD and withdrawal.
First group cessation program for simultaneous tobacco and cannabis quitting was developed through user research and received positive acceptability ratings.
Cannabis-dependent veterans with PTSD used cannabis more for coping, experienced worse withdrawal, and had stronger cravings than veterans without PTSD.
Among 100 veterans attempting to quit cannabis, positive beliefs about cannabis effects predicted use, lapse, and relapse, while negative beliefs had limited impact.
Among 385 adults who tried to quit cannabis without treatment, self-image, health, and legal motivations predicted better outcomes, with gender differences in motivation.
A 19-year-old heavy cannabis user showed no withdrawal, anxiety, or dissociative symptoms during 10 days of CBD treatment for cannabis withdrawal syndrome.
Adolescent cannabis users showed increased self-reflection brain activity when hearing their own motivational statements, and this predicted less use one month later.
Tobacco smokers were 19 times more likely to relapse to marijuana in a lab setting, but tobacco's direct effects did not explain this, suggesting shared vulnerability.
Nabilone (6-8 mg/day) reduced both marijuana withdrawal symptoms and self-administration in the relapse phase, with low abuse potential and once-daily dosing.
A case study using on-off-on-off cycles found cannabis and cigarette use decreased during micronutrient supplementation and resumed when supplements stopped.
Among 72 cannabis-dependent veterans, impulsivity correlated with craving and earlier cannabis use onset but did not predict quit success over 6 months.
53% of young adult tobacco users also used marijuana, and co-users had 25% lower odds of planning to permanently quit tobacco.
NAC helped adolescents achieve more marijuana abstinence without reducing craving more than placebo, suggesting it works through non-craving mechanisms.
Among 670 injection drug users in Tijuana, marijuana smokers were 38% more likely to have attempted quitting tobacco, a counterintuitive finding.
Oral THC (dronabinol) up to 120 mg/day dose-dependently reduced cannabis withdrawal symptoms in daily users with no significant cognitive impairment.
A clinical trial found nabiximols (THC/CBD spray) significantly reduced cannabis withdrawal and improved treatment retention, but provided no long-term advantage over placebo for reducing cannabis use.
Analysis of 170 counseling sessions found that student "change talk" mediated the link between counselor skill and reduced marijuana use, supporting it as an active ingredient of motivational interviewing.
Three web-based interventions all briefly increased co-smokers' readiness to quit tobacco and cannabis together, but none changed actual use and the motivational effect faded within 8 weeks.
In 39 monitored cannabis patients, withdrawal peaked at day 4 and declined by day 16, while 28% still had detectable blood THC after over two weeks of abstinence.
Adolescent smokers who frequently used marijuana were 44% less likely to have attempted quitting cigarettes, with boys showing a stronger effect than girls.
Smokers who used marijuana and other drugs expected quitting cigarettes would cause adverse outcomes, reducing their quit motivation across all six substance categories tested.
Cannabis-dependent veterans with moderate/high physical activity were less likely to relapse during the first week of quitting, especially in the first four days.
In a randomized trial, lithium did not reduce overall cannabis withdrawal severity vs. placebo, though it improved appetite loss, stomach aches, and nightmares.
Cannabis-dependent men showed reduced cognitive control brain activity, and those with greater pre-treatment activation in control and reward regions used less cannabis during and after treatment.
During monitored cannabis abstinence, most withdrawal symptoms peaked in days 0-3 and improved, but sleep disturbance and strange dreams got progressively worse over time.
Pilot study found that adding tobacco treatment to cannabis treatment did not harm cannabis outcomes, with 5 of 6 participants achieving cannabis abstinence.
RCT of 185 patients found an 8-session CBT intervention did not outperform treatment as usual for substance users with suicide risk on any measure over 6 months.
Among 972 young adults using both cigarettes and marijuana, use patterns were correlated but quit motivation diverged: more desire to quit cigarettes but less confidence in success.
Double-blind trial of 52 cannabis-dependent users found escitalopram (SSRI) added to CBT did not improve abstinence rates (19% overall), anxiety, or depression compared to placebo.
A group cessation program for 77 cannabis-tobacco co-smokers achieved 23% abstinence at 6-month follow-up, with improvements in mental health and substance use.
Dronabinol reduced opioid withdrawal severity during detox but did not improve naltrexone treatment completion rates in 60 opioid-dependent participants.
Among 104 cannabis-dependent veterans, PTSD predicted higher baseline use and slower initial reduction after a quit attempt, but did not affect relapse timing.
Among 678 young French smokers, cannabis use in the prior year and financial difficulties were the strongest barriers to sustaining tobacco cessation for 12 months.
Web-based addiction treatment improved abstinence 3.6x for stimulant users with promising trends for cannabis (2.6x) and alcohol (3.2x), but had no effect for opioid users.
Review of endocannabinoid system role in nicotine addiction found rimonabant helped smokers quit but had psychiatric risks, prompting research into safer alternative cannabinoid targets.
Study of 101 incarcerated Indigenous Australian men found family responsibilities and incarceration were the strongest motivators for quitting cannabis, suggesting culturally tailored cessation programs are needed.
Pilot study of 32 participants found that simultaneously treating cannabis and tobacco addiction was feasible and did not worsen cannabis outcomes, while reducing tobacco use.
Qualitative study found young adults with psychosis who quit cannabis naturally relied on recognizing broad harms, social support, diverse coping strategies, and peer pressure resistance.
Bipolar patients who quit cannabis during a manic episode had outcomes similar to never-users over two years, while those who continued using had lower recovery, higher recurrence, and more work impairment.
In 116 veterans attempting cannabis cessation, PTSD symptoms predicted declining friend support over 6 months, but only among those who relapsed in the first month.
A CNR1 gene variant moderated how much nicotine withdrawal disrupted brain function, with some genetic profiles showing greater cognitive disruption during deprivation.
Large clinical trial finds cannabis-using tobacco smokers quit tobacco at the same rate as tobacco-only smokers when given standard cessation treatment.
In a teen marijuana cessation trial, NAC-treated adolescents who reduced marijuana use also reduced alcohol use, with no compensatory increase in drinking.
Proof-of-concept trial shows high fixed doses of Sativex significantly reduced cannabis withdrawal symptoms but not craving, with self-titrated doses proving insufficient.
Among 369 disadvantaged Australian smokers, 19% used cannabis concurrently (100% simultaneously), and cannabis use was associated with lower motivation but not lower intention to quit tobacco.
Review finds CBT-based psychotherapy has moderate-to-large effects on cannabis dependence (evidence level Ia), no pharmacotherapy is approved, and serotonergic antidepressants may worsen outcomes.
Study of 302 adults finding that reducing cannabis use over 12 weeks improved anxiety, depression, and sleep quality but not overall quality of life, with effects independent of other substance use changes.
Validation of a new 46-item questionnaire identifying six categories of cannabis cessation expectations, providing clinicians a tool to understand barriers to quitting.
Small prospective study found significant verbal memory improvement (d = 1.07) in schizophrenia patients who achieved 28 days of cannabis abstinence.
Mouse study found that memory problems during nicotine withdrawal are driven by increased endocannabinoid (2-AG) signaling through CB1 receptors on inhibitory neurons, with associated loss of dendritic spines.
National survey found current marijuana users had double the tobacco use (69% vs. 28%) and one-third the sustained cessation rate (22% vs. 66%) compared to never-marijuana users.
Pilot trial found a family-based intervention with emotional regulation skills reduced marijuana use and risky behaviors among justice-involved youth over 3 months.
Web-based tailored intervention reduced cannabis use in 10.8% of young adults versus 5.1% in controls, with increased intention to abstain from use.
French national survey found cannabis use predicted failed smoking cessation, while successful quitters were distinguished by no e-cigarette use, no environmental smoke exposure, and perceived harmfulness of smoking.
Study of 203 daily cannabis users found that the tendency to experience negative emotions explained why people with low distress tolerance have more cannabis problems, worse withdrawal, and less confidence in quitting.
Study of 721 college users found tobacco-marijuana co-users prioritized quitting cigarettes over marijuana, with higher importance ratings but lower confidence for cigarette cessation. Different factors predicted quitting each substance.
Using incentive-based monitoring, 42% of cannabis-dependent schizophrenia patients achieved 28 days of verified abstinence - statistically similar to the 55% rate in non-psychiatric controls.
Residential crossover study found dronabinol (oral THC) at 120-240 mg/day significantly reduced cannabis self-administration in daily users, supporting agonist therapy as a potential treatment approach.
Smartphone tracking found that 73.5% of young heavy cannabis users lapsed during attempted abstinence, with negative expectations, low family support, and permissive environments predicting relapse.
Pilot trial found nabiximols was safe and well-tolerated in cannabis-dependent patients, with 70.5% cannabis use reduction (vs 42.6% placebo) and reduced craving, though differences were not statistically significant.
Among 500 young smokers, marijuana users were equally motivated to quit tobacco but 44% less likely to succeed, suggesting co-use creates a specific barrier that cessation programs need to address.
Systematic review of 10 trials found dronabinol, nabilone, and nabiximols all show promise for treating cannabis withdrawal, with good safety profiles and potential dose-dependent effects.
Among 145 cannabis users, those perceiving more barriers to quitting had more use problems, worse withdrawal symptoms, and lower confidence in their ability to quit.
In a year-long study of 545 at-risk military personnel, marijuana use combined with high PTSD symptoms predicted worsening PTSD and increased suicidal behavior, an interaction not seen with alcohol or opioids.
Focus groups with 37 cannabis-using teens identified rewards, self-monitoring, peer support, privacy, and customizable notifications as key elements for an engaging cessation app.
Past-year marijuana use nearly doubled among former US cigarette smokers from 2002-2016, while depression and binge drinking also rose, threatening sustained smoking cessation.
Five-year study of 7,717 opioid treatment patients found persistent heroin use strongly predicted crack cocaine co-use but was associated with less cannabis escalation, with crack being the key predictor of treatment failure.
Controlled study of 40 MS patients found 28 days of cannabis abstinence produced significant improvements in every cognitive measure tested, with corresponding increases in brain activation on fMRI.
Controlled study shows varenicline doubled tobacco abstinence rates in cannabis co-users (46% vs 24%), while nabilone eased cannabis withdrawal, with tobacco-related variables predicting cannabis relapse.
Small pilot study of guanfacine for cannabis withdrawal in 7 volunteers found no significant effects on withdrawal or craving, with trends toward improved mood that may warrant larger investigation.
Substudy of 37 cannabis-using youth found approach avoidance training that reduced cannabis use in a larger trial did not significantly change brain cue reactivity on fMRI, with only trend-level effects.
Motivational therapy sessions with 56 frequent cannabis-using teens found emotional coping was the main use driver, with most identifying education, career, and family as values they saw cannabis use conflicting with.
Pilot RCT found computer-based screening and brief counseling in pediatric visits reduced teen cannabis use by 38% and riding with impaired drivers by 42% over 12 months.
Pilot RCT found simultaneous tobacco treatment during cannabis treatment was feasible and acceptable, but tobacco quit rates were low in both timing conditions.
Survey of 282 cannabis-tobacco co-users found high tobacco quit interest (7.1/10) but low cannabis quit interest (2.4/10), with bidirectional substitution during quit attempts.
At 10-year follow-up, first-episode psychosis patients who quit cannabis had outcomes matching never-users, while persistent users fared significantly worse.
Computer-delivered ED intervention reduced marijuana use at 6 months, with relationship concerns predicting up to 5.5 fewer use days per month.
First meta-analysis of cannabis withdrawal prevalence: 47% of regular/dependent users experienced clinically significant withdrawal across 23 studies and 27,000+ participants.
A study of 1,059 tobacco quitline callers in states with legal marijuana found 24% also used marijuana, with 43% of those users wanting to quit or reduce their marijuana consumption.
First RCT of CBD for cannabis use disorder found 400mg and 800mg daily were safe and more effective than placebo at reducing cannabis use over 4 weeks, with 94% completing treatment.
National Canadian survey found 72% of people with cannabis dependence history achieved remission, but only 43% reached positive mental health, compared to 74% without dependence history.
Among 601 adult smokers in San Francisco primary care clinics, over half also used cannabis, e-cigarettes, or both, but cessation counseling rarely addressed poly-use.
A Bayesian meta-analysis found current interventions for tobacco-cannabis co-users showed weak evidence for cessation of either substance, though multi-substance approaches were more promising for cannabis.
US cigarette quit ratios from 2002-2016 remained dramatically lower for cannabis users (23%) and those with CUD (15%) compared to non-users (51%), with no improvement for CUD over 15 years.
A longitudinal study of 91,774 Canadian high school students found few cannabis users quit spontaneously, but those who did showed 2.5x better attendance and 2.3x better homework completion than continuing users.
A study of 70 young frequent cannabis users found those with higher trait mindfulness reported fewer cannabis-related problems, though mindfulness did not predict motivation to reduce use.
A survey of 2,102 Canadian medical cannabis patients found that among 650 tobacco/nicotine users, 49% reported reducing use and 25% reported quitting after starting medical cannabis.
Interviews with 97 cannabis users in Nigeria found that abstinence-only recovery frameworks led to feelings of failure after relapse, prompting some to redefine recovery as a process of reduced use and improved well-being.
Large longitudinal study of 4,535 cigarette smokers found no evidence that cannabis use inhibits quitting cigarettes, with similar quit rates across never, former, and current cannabis users.
Web-based cannabis reduction program reduced use by 11.5 days/month in adults with ADHD symptoms, with significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and ADHD symptom severity at 3 months.
Cannabis withdrawal occurs in half of regular users, starting 24-48 hours after quitting and peaking within a week. No approved medications exist, but supportive counseling is first-line treatment.
A digital therapeutic app delivering behavioral therapy and contingency management more than doubled 12-week abstinence rates for alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and stimulant use disorders compared to treatment-as-usual.
Analysis of a CUD treatment trial found counseling attendance was the strongest predictor of abstinence, while nabiximols reduced dropout and improved engagement, supporting combined treatment.
In a cannabis dependence trial, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and pain all improved over 12 weeks regardless of medication type, and even without complete abstinence from cannabis.
In a smoking cessation program, reductions in cigarette, e-cigarette, and cigar use were all associated with reductions in cannabis use over 3 months.
Focus groups with 16 young psychosis patients found they continued cannabis use not despite knowing risks but because they lacked alternative strategies for socializing, enjoyment, and mood management.
Adding a self-regulation-focused Grit program to residential substance treatment produced larger reductions in cannabis and methamphetamine use in young adults, sustained at 12 months.
Systematic review of 6 studies found contingency management effectively reduced cannabis use and achieved abstinence periods in people with psychotic disorders or major depression.
Three-year study of 461 first-episode psychosis patients found those who quit cannabis showed the most attention recovery, reaching scores closest to healthy controls.
Analysis of 225 participants found reducing cannabis use to lower risk levels was associated with less anxiety, depression, and cannabis-related problems.
Study of 79 young people found cannabis withdrawal symptoms peaked in the first week of monitored abstinence then declined, with mood and sleep most affected.
Systematic review of 8 RCTs found nabiximols, CBD, and PF-04457845 outperformed dronabinol and nabilone for cannabis use disorder, covering more treatment outcomes.
Pilot trial of 52 young adults found emotion-focused therapy outperformed standard CBT for reducing emotional distress in cannabis use disorder, with both treatments reducing cannabis use.
Study of 20 cannabis users found brain glutamate levels were lower than controls during 21 days of abstinence, with declining glutamate strongly correlated with increasing craving.
Among 611 substance use inpatients, cannabis use disorder was the strongest predictor of 3-month relapse (53.3% rate, OR=2.31) in patients with co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
RCT found adolescents who quit cannabis experienced trouble falling asleep during the first week, but sleep returned to normal by week two and stayed there through week four.
Pilot telehealth intervention promoting cannabis-free activities for untreated CUD achieved 70% completion with preliminary reductions in use, depression, and anxiety.
Study of 2,055 CUD patients found three treatment profiles, with 80% of high-adherence patients relapse-free at 2 years versus 24% in the moderate group.
Among 374 PWH trying to quit smoking, increasing cannabis use was associated with 78% lower odds of cigarette abstinence.
Scoping review found no proven intervention for reducing cannabis use in young adults with psychosis, though MI, CBT, and family training show minimal evidence.
Review of 22 RCTs found no approved cannabis craving treatment, but THC+lofexidine, oxytocin, progesterone, and NAC show promise.
Among 441 cannabis users, paranoid and dysphoric intoxication experiences were the strongest predictors of motivation to quit, more than psychosis-like hallucinations.
Machine learning and traditional models achieved only modest accuracy predicting cannabis use disorder treatment response in a multi-site trial analysis.
A 12-week group therapy program combining CBT and motivational enhancement reduced cannabis use, cravings, withdrawal, depression, and anxiety in treatment-seeking patients.
Analysis of a CUD clinical trial found high-dose nabiximols did not cause clinically significant changes in biological markers including liver function.
Review of clinical trials found CB1 receptor agonists like nabilone are the most promising medications for treating cannabis use disorder, though none are yet approved.
Veterans who quit smoking had 75% higher odds of reducing cannabis use and 2x higher odds of reducing alcohol use, but quitting did not improve depression, anxiety, or pain.
Pilot mobile app helped heavy cannabis users cut use from 94% of days to 47% and from 1.42 grams to 0.61 grams daily, with half achieving 50%+ reduction.
CBD reduced nicotine self-administration in mice without affecting food intake, and attenuated both physical withdrawal symptoms and withdrawal-related pain sensitivity, suggesting potential as a smoking cessation aid.
Open-label study of 20 daily e-cigarette users found 320 mg oral CBD reduced nicotine withdrawal severity and anxiety during a 4-hour abstinence period.
Meta-analysis of 4 RCTs found cannabis users with PTSD still benefited from trauma-focused therapy, but attended fewer sessions and showed less improvement in other substance use.
A cessation trial secondary analysis found that among 500 Black adults, blunt use during a quit attempt did not significantly reduce odds of quitting cigarettes at 12 or 26 weeks.
A 12-week RCT found zolpidem prevented early cannabis withdrawal sleep disturbance but did not significantly increase quit rates (27% vs 15%), with sleep problems returning after medication stopped.
An RCT of 84 adolescent inpatients with cannabis use disorder found mindfulness therapy added to standard care did not improve cannabis outcomes at 6 months, though standard care was effective.
Survey of nearly 24,000 students found most teen e-cigarette users wanted to quit or cut back, but fewer were motivated to change their cannabis use.
A study identified four distinct cannabis user profiles and found that rapidly escalating users tried to quit most often, while long-term heavy users had the worst cessation outcomes.
A systematic review found CBT shows promise for adolescent CUD, with shorter courses and parental involvement most promising.
Medical cannabis laws with dispensaries were associated with declining CUD treatment in 2004-2014, though the effect faded by 2015-2019.
Analysis of 920 participants found reducing cannabis use ~50% in frequency and ~75% in amount was associated with clinician-assessed improvement.
Randomized trial found that A-CRA therapy helped Iranian teen boys with cannabis use disorder achieve higher abstinence and better family relationships than standard treatment.
Only 9 studies address tobacco-cannabis co-use treatment. Combined therapy showed promise with no compensatory use.
LGBTQ+ dual users who also used cannabis had smaller reductions in cigarette smoking during quit attempts, especially on cannabis-use days.
National US cohort study found legalization increased cannabis use but had no effect on tobacco use or cannabis-tobacco co-use from 2017-2021.
Cannabis use disorder worsens PTSD through psychological inflexibility — rigid, avoidant thinking that prevents trauma processing — a mechanism that's treatable with targeted therapy.
In a double-blind RCT of 72 people with CUD, active brain stimulation reduced cannabis use by about 1 fewer day per week compared to sham, though craving was not significantly affected.
Swedish mixed-methods study found that cannabis, alcohol, and gambling users largely share the same barriers to treatment: privacy concerns, stigma, and poor availability.
Review of randomized controlled trials found 10 medications across 8 neurotransmitter systems showing promise for cannabis use disorder, though none yet has strong enough evidence for approval.
Pilot study of telehealth counseling plus smartphone-based interventions for young cannabis users showed 100% engagement and 27% reduction in use days at 2-month follow-up.
Seven years after legalization, Canada's cannabis surveillance still uses outdated diagnostic frameworks, excludes key populations, and can't reliably measure whether legalization has increased or decreased harms.
RCT: motivational therapy plus mobile-triggered support reduced cannabis temptation and dependence more than therapy alone in 70 young adults with CUD.
223 teens seeking to quit vaping: 92% also use cannabis, 69% in the past month. Heavier cannabis use linked to more frequent nicotine vaping.
Protocol for a 200-teen RCT testing whether 8 weeks of cannabis abstinence reduces depression and suicidal ideation — using 8 daily phone surveys to capture the moment-by-moment relationship.
A review found CUD treatment success depends on duration, motivation, coping skills, self-efficacy, and therapeutic alliance, with sex, age, and comorbidity predicting who benefits.
Culturally tailored mobile app for Black adults with cannabis use disorder showed strong feasibility and acceptability plus preliminary efficacy signals in a 50-person proof-of-concept RCT.
In a clinical trial of 192 young people, cannabis use didn't predict whether they successfully quit nicotine vaping—though co-use days showed higher vaping.
About a third of teen dual users quit both vaping and cannabis at 7 months—and quitting vaping appeared to help with quitting cannabis too.
Analysis of 16 years of national data found CUD treatment rates declined while barriers like cost, awareness, and stigma grew.
Rigorous trial of 192 youth found N-acetylcysteine was no better than placebo for cannabis use disorder when not paired with contingency management.
Pilot trial of 50 adults found mindfulness-based therapy (MORE) significantly reduced cannabis and cocaine cravings in people being treated for alcohol problems.
Meta-analysis of 22 trials (3,304 people) found MET-CBT significantly increased cannabis abstinence but also had higher dropout rates.
Most young vapers want help quitting, but there's no consensus on how—and 40% also vape cannabis, which they see as less harmful than nicotine.
A two-week self-guided online intervention helped 69% of cannabis users meet reduction goals, vs. 49% in the control group.
In a smoking cessation trial, 47% of participants also used cannabis and increased their cannabis consumption while reducing cigarettes at similar rates to non-users.
A trial of 150 participants found computer-based motivational interviews generated similar "change talk" about marijuana as face-to-face sessions, but only face-to-face showed a trend toward reducing actual use.
Young smokers with cannabis dependence perceived fewer downsides to smoking, and younger people preferred app-based cessation therapy over face-to-face.
A randomized trial of 66 adults found that a brief (~16-day) mindfulness program did not reduce cannabis use, cravings, or quantity compared to relaxation or monitoring alone.
A JAMA Network Open trial found a two-session personality-targeted intervention reduced cannabis use escalation by 25% over 4 years in at-risk teens, with similar effects for alcohol and tobacco.
European analysis shows cannabis-related treatment admissions rose to 37% of all substance treatment entries by 2020, but only 3% of frequent users sought help, indicating a widening treatment gap.
Focus groups with 15 clinicians found tobacco cessation is overlooked in cannabis treatment settings, with healthcare fragmentation and training gaps as key barriers.
RCT of 1,078 young adults found text-message motivational treatment advanced participants through stages of change, resulting in 50% lower THC levels and 4 fewer use days at 6 months.
RCT of 1,078 young adults found text-message CUD treatment worked indirectly through increased motivation and harm reduction strategies, reducing cannabis use at 6 months.
Analysis of 7 CUD trials found urinary THC dropped about 50% in self-reported reducers, but no reliable individual-level cut-point could be established.
Interviews with 20 young adults at psychosis risk reveal coping motives and social pressure as top barriers to cutting back on cannabis, informing mobile intervention design.
Clinicians across four specialties identify risk minimization by both teens and parents as the top barrier to treating adolescent cannabis use.
National data on 40,054 teens with CUD shows only 37% complete treatment, with Black adolescents and those experiencing homelessness facing the lowest completion odds.
Interviews with 20 young adults found stronger motivation to quit nicotine vaping than cannabis vaping, with addiction, mental health coping, and identity as key barriers, and health concerns as the main facilitator.
A 3-year study of 279 bipolar patients found cannabis linked to earlier onset and more psychotic symptoms but not more hospital readmissions, while tobacco predicted higher relapse rates.
Daily tracking of 65 young people in cannabis treatment showed cannabis helped sleep in the first two weeks but the benefit disappeared by week three.
Small trial of mindfulness-based therapy for cannabis users showed better adherence and trends toward more durable reduction, but differences did not reach statistical significance.
Pilot RCT found telehealth brain stimulation with mindfulness reduced cannabis use by 1.4 days/week and significantly decreased withdrawal in women with MS.
Study found cannabis co-users smoked more cigarettes when asked to switch to alternatives and were less likely to attempt tobacco cessation.
Culturally adapted prevention program improved emotional skills and shifted cannabis habits among Polynesian adolescents, with strongest effects in non-users and low-users.
In a tobacco cessation trial, cannabis co-users experienced significantly worse withdrawal during week 1 of quitting compared to tobacco-only users, with no difference at later timepoints.
Umbrella review of 22 systematic reviews found CBD alone is not effective for substance use disorders, but CBD+THC combination (nabiximols) helps cannabis withdrawal and craving.
Retrospective survey of 152 cannabis users found significant psychedelic experiences associated with reduced cannabis use, with 'mystical' quality predicting greater reductions.
Survey found only 9.2% of cannabis consumers sought help for problems, with doctors most common in legal jurisdictions and family/friends preferred where cannabis is illegal.
Analysis of 4,415 cannabis break app users found they were predominantly young daily users seeking mental clarity, with most planning to reduce rather than quit entirely.
The Cochrane Review's second update confirms: no medication has strong evidence for treating cannabis use disorder or reliably reducing withdrawal symptoms.
Among 13,088 pregnant women in cannabis treatment, those in legal states had 67% lower odds of completing treatment—only 28.3% completed overall.
First pilot trial of H4 deep brain stimulation for cannabis use disorder found the treatment feasible and tolerable — laying groundwork for controlled efficacy trials.
A 12-week RCT found varenicline reduced cannabis use in men with CUD but had no effect in women.
A 12-week virtual group therapy program reduced cannabis use, cravings, depression, and anxiety with 68% retention.
A text-based mobile treatment for young adults with CUD reduced cannabis use at 6 months with equal effectiveness in rural and urban areas.
Systematic review of 38 studies finds integrated CBT works for CUD with co-occurring conditions, and AI tools can enhance contingency management.
Major meta-analysis shows cannabis co-use reduces tobacco quit odds by 35%, but CBD interventions cut cigarette consumption by 40%, suggesting a promising new cessation approach.
Systematic review finds 33 clinical trials testing Ozempic-type drugs for addiction, mostly for alcohol and tobacco, with zero trials targeting cannabis use disorder.
Pilot study found veterans with PTSD who achieved 12 weeks of cannabis abstinence saw 71% symptom reduction vs. 37% in those who continued using.
An RCT of 152 Canadian heavy cannabis users found an online self-guided treatment program reduced use frequency and problems, with a brief therapist introduction adding benefit for quantity reduction but not essential for frequency reduction.
Study of 94 Spanish cannabis treatment seekers found 88% co-used cannabis with tobacco, 76% had withdrawal symptoms (worse in women), with two distinct user profiles.
British pharmacology consensus guidelines found no approved medications for cannabis or synthetic cannabinoid dependence — a major gap compared to alcohol, opioid, and nicotine treatment.
Survey of 9,178 youth found earlier cannabis initiation predicted greater difficulty quitting for both American Indian and non-AI students, with AI youth more likely to start before age 14.
Meta-analysis of 9 RCTs found CBT did not significantly outperform other psychosocial treatments for reducing cannabis use frequency, though one measure of daily consumption showed a medium-term benefit.
ABCD Study found adolescents' mental health improved when household members quit cannabis, mediated by reduced family conflict and better sleep.