Cannabis Dependence
Conditions
Keywords
Tobacco Use
Brief summary
This project aims to develop and test an intervention for the simultaneous treatment of cannabis use disorders and tobacco smoking. This is important because over 50% of adults seeking treatment to help stop cannabis use also smoke tobacco regularly, which decreases their chance for a successful treatment outcome and increases adverse acute and long-term psychosocial and health consequences. The proposed treatment will integrate existing computer-based behavioral interventions for cannabis and tobacco and use nicotine replacement medications to improve outcomes in this difficult to treat clinical population.
Detailed description
Approximately 50% of persons seeking treatment for cannabis-use disorders (CUDs) regularly smoke tobacco. Combining tobacco with cannabis has become a common method of smoking cannabis. Similarities of use, and using together, can make quitting difficult. Stopping tobacco simultaneously with cannabis may be beneficial. Little scientific information currently addresses how to best target tobacco smoking during treatment for CUDs. Our long-term goal is to develop an effective protocol for intervening in tobacco smoking without changing cannabis outcomes. A two-phase, Stage 1 therapy development project will accomplish the following: First, a treatment protocol and manual will be developed that integrates a tailored intervention for tobacco smoking with an intervention for CUD (Aim 1). Utilization of web-based counseling programs will standardize delivery of the intervention and foster eventual dissemination. A pilot study will provide an initial test of acceptability and feasibility. Second, a Stage 1, proof-of-concept study will compare this intervention to one that targets CUD only (Aim 2). The hypotheses assert that the intervention (1) will be accepted by the majority of eligible participants (2) will result in more tobacco quit attempts and rates than the CUD-only treatment; and (3) will not adversely affect cannabis outcomes. Last, the project will evaluate the potential of specific moderators of outcomes to predict outcomes and inform subsequent treatment development efforts (Aim 3). If the hypotheses were confirmed, dissemination of this protocol would reduce adverse psychosocial and health consequences of tobacco or cannabis dependence. Findings will inform future development of prevention and intervention strategies.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMET/CBT/CM plus NRT
Behavioral Treatment for Cannabis plus Behavioral Treatment for Tobacco: both primarily delivered by computer. Additional NRT.
Sponsors
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* 18-65 years old * current DSM-IV diagnosis of cannabis abuse or dependence * report use of cannabis on at least 45 of previous 90 days * report regular use of tobacco cigarettes or report that their primary administration of cannabis is via blunts or spliffs * some indication of interest in quitting tobacco in the next 6 months (rating of 2 or more on a 5-point interest scale
Exclusion criteria
* current dependence on alcohol or any drug other than tobacco and cannabis * active or recent suicidal ideation * use of non-tobacco nicotine * current participation in treatment for substance abuse * severe psychological distress (e.g., active suicidal plans, psychosis, debilitating panic disorder). * a condition that requires seeing a physician before using NRT (e.g., pregnancy or recent heart attack * legal status that would interfere with participation * living with someone enrolled in the project * not living within 30 miles of the research site (unless an exception is authorized by the PI) * not being fluent in english
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tobacco Quit Attempts | Will be assessed for the duration of study, an average of 16 weeks | Sum of 24 hour quit attempts |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cannabis Abstinence: continuous weeks of abstinence achieved during the 12 week treatment period | Will be assessed twice per week for the duration of the study treatment period, 12 weeks | Urinalysis tests and self-report data will be collected twice per week during participation in the study |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed