Marijuana Withdrawal Syndrome: A Bibliography
Selected science references.
The idea of marijuana addiction and withdrawal remains controversial in both private and scientific circles. For an unlucky few, a well-identified set of symptoms characterizes abstinence from heavy, daily use of pot. In this respect, marijuana addiction and withdrawal does not differ greatly from alcoholism--the vast majority of recreational users and drinkers will never experience it.
For those that do, however, the withdrawal symptoms of marijuana abstinence can severely impact their quality of life. Since discussions of this topic frequently veer off into sociopolitical arguments, leaving the science behind, I offer below a sampling of the growing medical and psychiatric literature on this aspect of drug use and abuse.
For additional comments and discussions about symptoms, see Marijuana Withdrawal.
References
Aharonovich, E., Liu, X., Samet, S., Nunes, E., Waxman, R., & Hasin, D. (2005). Postdischarge Cannabis Use and Its Relationship to Cocaine, Alcohol, and Heroin Use: A Prospective Study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(8), 1507-1514.
Budney, Alan J., Hughes, J.R., Moore, B.A., & Vandrey, R. (2004, November). Review of the Validity and Significance of Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161, 1967-1977.
Budney, A.J., Moore, B.A., Vandrey, R., Hughes, J.R. (2003). The time course and significance of cannabis withdrawal. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112, 393-402.
Budney, A.J., Hughes, J.R., Moore, B.A., & Novy, P.L. (2001). Marijuana Abstinence Effects in Marijuana Smokers Maintained in Their Home Environment. Archives of General Psychiatry, 58(10), 917-924.
Budney A. J., Novy P. L., & Hughes, J. R. (1999, September 1). Marijuana withdrawal among adults seeking treatment for marijuana dependence. Addiction, 94, 1311-1322.
Copeland, J., Swift, W., & Rees, V. (2001 January). Clinical profile of participants in a brief intervention program for cannabis use disorder. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 20(1), 45-52.
Cui, S.S., Gu, G.B., Hannesson, D.K., Yu, P.H., & Zhang, X. (2001, December 15). Prevention of cannabinoid withdrawal syndrome by lithium: involvement of oxytocinergic neuronal activation. Journal of Neuroscience, 21(24), 9867-9876.
de Fonseca, F.R., Rocío, M., Carrera, A., Navarro, M., Koob, G.F., & Weiss, F. (1997, June 27). Activation of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor in the Limbic System During Cannabinoid Withdrawal. Science, 276, 2050 - 2054.
Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2006). Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. Rockville, MD: Office of Applied Studies. Retrieved March 12, 2008, from http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k6NSDUH/2k6results.cfm#Ch2
Fackelmann, K.A. (1993, February 6). Marijuana and the brain: scientists discover the brain's own THC-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Science News.
Hall, W., Solowij, N., & Lemon, J. (1999). The health and psychological consequences of cannabis use. (National Task Force on Cannabis Australia, Monograph Series No. 25). Sydney, NSW: University of New South Wales, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.
Haney, M., Hart, C.L., Vosburg, S.K., Nasser, J., Bennetti, A., Zubaran, C., et. al. (2004). Marijuana Withdrawal in Humans: Effects of Oral THC or Divalproex. Neuropsychopharmacology, 29, 158–170.
Haney, M., Hart, Carl L., Ward, Amie S., & Foltin, R. W. (2003, January). Nefazodone decreases anxiety during marijuana withdrawal in humans. Psychopharmacology, 165(2), 157-165.
Haney, M., Ward, A.S., Comer, S.D., Foltin, R.W., & Fischman, M.W. (1999, February). Abstinence symptoms following smoked marijuana in humans. Psychopharmacology, 141(4), 395-404.
Jones, R.T., Benowitz, N.L., & Herning, R.I. (1981, August-September). Clinical relevance of cannabis tolerance and dependence. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 8-9 Suppl., 143-152.
Joy, J.E., Watson, S.J.,Benson, J.A. (1999). Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. p.92. Institute of Medicine, Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Health. Washington. D.C.: National Academy Press. Retrieved March 5, 2008, from
Kouri, E.M., & Pope, H.G., Jr. (2000, November). Abstinence symptoms during withdrawal from chronic marijuana use. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 8(4), 483-492.
Kouri, E.M. (2002, February 1). Does Marijuana Withdrawal Syndrome Exist? Psychiatric Times, 19(2).
Lichtman, A.H., and Martin, B.R. (2002). Marijuana Withdrawal Syndrome in the Animal Model. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 42, 20s-27s.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (1999, April 20). Chronic Marijuana Users Become Aggressive During Withdrawal. NIDA News Release. Rockville, MD: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Schuckit, M.A., Daeppen, J-B., Danko, G.P., Tripp, M.L., Li, T-K., Hesselbrock, V.M., et. al. (1999). Clinical implications for four drugs of the DSM-IV distinction between substance dependence with and without a physiological component. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 41-49.
Scripps given $4M grant to study effects of marijuana. (2008, March 15). North County Times.
Somers, T. (2008, March 14). Study aims to clear haze surrounding pot addiction. San Diego Union-Tribune.
Tanda, G., Pontieri, F.E., & Di Chiara, G. (1997, June 27). Cannabinoid and Heroin Activation of Mesolimbic Dopamine Transmission by a Common µ1 Opioid Receptor Mechanism. Science, 276, 2048 - 2050.
Vandrey, R.G., Budney, A.J., Hughes, J.R., & A. Liguori. (2008, January 1). A within-subject comparison of withdrawal symptoms during abstinence from cannabis, tobacco, and both substances. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 92, 48-54.
Wickelgren, I. (1997, June 27). Marijuana: Harder Than Thought? Science, 76, 1967-1968.
Wilson, R.I. & Nicoll, R.A. (2001, March 29). Endogenous cannabinoids mediate retrograde signalling at hippocampal synapses. Nature, 410, 588-592.
Zickler, P. (2002, October 17). Study Demonstrates That Marijuana Smokers Experience Significant Withdrawal. NIDA Notes, 17(3). Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Posted by Dirk Hanson
http://addiction-dirkh.blogspot.co.nz/2008/04/marijuana-withdrawal-syndrome.html
its only day 12 for me, so i relly shouldn't be answering posts, (emotions are all over the place)but this is somthing i have experience in as i have been a daily (unless in jail) marijuana smoker for 30+ years and i can tell you out of all the studies (and there are many)Marijuana isnt physically addicting, but can defintitly be phsycological as with me until about the last year or so.
i quit smoking cigarettes long ago because i wasnt going to smoke both and cigs didnt get me high, either did pot later , just made me paronoid and have high anxiety when i would smoke it,(i actually wondered y i would do it right after doin it, but yet would do it daily) my life was centered around that and alcohol for as long as i can remember.and to me its like quitting cigs, very hard , felt like i was missing somthing constantly like a reward or somthin, but it was also a lifestyle , i in recent years got so caught up in other drugs that i left that life, to a worse one ,and now am first trying to rebuild.
what i would suggest is talk to a health professional, i did 7 weeks ago , i called the local mental health place and was evaluated, and the counseling has really helped me out.especially with coping with anxiety , and now with coping with everything being sober ,.
I think the difference this time is it wasnt court mandated and i wasnt just tryin to play them , and since i came in on my own and was honest w/counselor about everything, he never tried to push me into rehab , he actually a domestic abuse counselor, but i dont care maybe he is all they had available , i see him every week and i dont think i would be where i am going today if not for this forum and callin mental health.
it relly can help with all your symtoms.
OTF-no more