Recovery from cannabis use disorders: Abstinence versus moderation and treatment-assisted recovery versus natural recovery.

Abstract

The recovery process from cannabis use disorders has received little empirical attention. Understanding how and the ways in which individuals with cannabis use disorders recover may help to improve formal treatments and facilitate recovery for those who wish to not seek treatment. The present study was undertaken with two primary objectives in mind. The first primary objective was to provide an exploratory portrait of the recovery process from cannabis use disorders from the perspective of individuals who have recovered. The second primary objective was to explore and systematically describe the similarities and differences between abstinence-and moderation-oriented recoveries, as well as the similarities and differences between treatment-assisted and natural recoveries. The methodology was largely borrowed from the natural recovery literature insofar as recovery was first inferred via the remission of diagnostic symptoms, and then explored predominantly via several interview domains (e.g., reasons for resolution, actions taken to recover, maintenance factors, barriers to treatment seeking).Several interesting and important findings emerged at the level of the total sample (N = 119), as well as at the level of group comparisons between the different recovery pathways. Notably, the findings lend further support to the effectiveness of cognitive, motivational, and behavioural strategies as helpful actions and maintenance factors

Prevalence and pathways of recovery from drug and alcohol problems in the United States population: Implications for practice, research, and policy

“…Noteworthy also was the finding that respondents whose primary substance was cannabis were less likely to utilize any type of external assistance than those with other primary substances (cannabis primary individuals had one third lower odds of having used formal services compared to alcohol primary individuals). It may be that the impact of cannabis-related problems on individuals’ physiology and life contexts is less dramatic than other primary substances (e.g., clinically-managed withdrawal is not medically indicated), requiring reduced need for external resources to resolve these problems (Ellingstad et al, 2006; Stea et al, 2015). …”

Early predictors of maturing out of marijuana use among young men

“…Adolescence-onset persistent use has been linked to mental health problems, such as psychosis and cognitive impairment (Meier et al, 2012; Volkow, Baler, Compton, & Weiss, 2014), respiratory problems (Moore, Augustson, Moser, & Budney, 2005; Tashkin, 2013), and lower educational and occupational achievement (Ellickson, Martino, & Collins, 2004; Fergusson & Bowden, 2008; Green & Ensminger, 2006). Nonetheless, results have been inconsistent across studies (e.g., Bechtold, Simpson, White, Loeber, & Pardini, 2015; White, Bechtold, Loeber, & Pardini, 2015) and some studies have noted positive benefits of use among adults (see Caulkins, Hawken, Kilmer, & Kleiman, 2012). …”

Development and initial validation of a marijuana cessation expectancies questionnaire

“…Importantly, in this non-clinical sample, about one quarter of marijuana users reported purposeful attempts to stop using and over half reported reduction attempts, attesting to the fact that many individuals make behavioral change attempts without formal treatment (Sobell et al, 2000; Stea et al, 2015). Assessment of marijuana cessation expectancies allows for a more nuanced understanding of cognitions that may either facilitate or inhibit behavioral change in an individual user.…”