Hashishi

Marijuana withdrawal rivals that of nicotine
2-5-`07 | Reuters | by Amy Norton

Quitting marijuana can cause withdrawal symptoms as severe as those from quitting tobacco, a small study suggests.

The study, of 12 adults who were heavy users of both marijuana and cigarettes, found that stopping either substance triggered similar withdrawal symptoms.

As with nicotine withdrawal, quitting marijuana caused symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating, researchers found.

"Marijuana is not as innocuous as some people would lead you to believe," said lead researcher Dr. Ryan Vandrey, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Previous research had shown that there is in fact a "marijuana withdrawal syndrome," he told Reuters Health. These new findings give some idea of its significance, Vandrey explained.

It's not clear from this study whether marijuana withdrawal symptoms hinder many people from successfully quitting. However, Vandrey said that past surveys of marijuana users in treatment have shown that people with withdrawal symptoms tend to have more failed quit attempts.

The men and women in the current study, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, used marijuana four times a day, on average, and smoked an average of 20 cigarettes per day.

None was in treatment or had any plans to quit either drug.

Vandrey and his colleagues had the volunteers go through three separate five-day periods of abstinence: one in which they quit tobacco, one in which they quit marijuana and one in which they quit both.

Across the group as a whole, the researchers found, withdrawal from marijuana was as severe as nicotine withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms were not worse, however, when the volunteers quit both drugs at once.

The findings, according to Vandrey, should help give heavy marijuana users some idea of what to expect in terms of withdrawal.

He said other studies are looking at ways to ease these symptoms, such as treatment with an oral form of THC, the main active substance in marijuana. Sleep medication, Vandrey noted, could potentially help, since poor sleep is often part of withdrawal, but this has yet to be studied.

[I screamed when I read this. Quite apart from mind-numbing naivety of the suggestion that cannabis use may cause withdrawals comparable to the most addictive and destructive intoxicant in the world, where did they find these volunteers? After some searching, it turns out the paper is entitled 'Cannabis Withdrawal in Adolescent Treatment Seekers'. -Hash]

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Logos

Heh, I have seen studies that indicate that cannabis is less addictive than even caffeine, and that study I agree with. I'm currently addicted to caffeine, and nicotine. I don't consider myself addicted to cannabis, when I have it I use it, when I run out, I find that the symptoms are quite mild compared to nicotine, and even less than that of caffeine. This is my own experience, and others might have a different experience. I once went for a whole year without cannabis after having used it for years on a daily basis, and had no problems after about two days. However, every time I have tried quitting smoking, even with patches, I failed.

Even running out of caffeine is more harsh in my opinion.

I can take cannabis or leave it, however, I prefer to take it when it is available.

I have also noticed a mild depression when I run out, but I have always felt that had more to do with it's lack of availability due to its illegal nature than anything else.

Maybe symptoms are more severe for others, this is just my experience.

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Brother Logos
The more I learn, the less I know. | Truth doesn't change, only our perception of it does.
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carlover_36

HorseFeathers! I have been smoking cigs for 35 yrs, cnn't give give 'em up. I smoke pot when I can, and if i cann't get it, no big deal. Rn out of cigs, I'm ready to kill somebody. That study is why people want to keep the second most miracle drug around, cocaine being the first, illegal. And we all allow it.

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Stay Stoned

chadwick

well hell, small studies cant be trusted for starters if you want an accurate result you have to have a double blind study done by doctors in a controlled study of atleast 100 people, and why didnt they give any of the physical symptons for the nicotine cause those who participated were in the same group as my cousin and when he quit smoking in a couple days his started shaking, kinda like an intence shiver, he wasnt even phased by quitting marijuana, he stil cant quit smoking cigs to this day

BillieBudd

Twelve people!!!?? Heavy users!!??? Hey I'm sold..broadcast this news through out the Republic!!!

Swabeky

that what I was thinking, well shit, I know twelve people who smoke and have over 3.5 GPA's, pot must also cause good grades. Why even publish a study like this if it has as much worth as a case study, a very bad case study.

RT_Fufkin

I love all these studies that keep showing up that use 9 people for research....that isn't a research study, it's a party ..But seriously, why is this even NEWS??? A study is published about 12 people having withdrawal symptoms from cannabis....Big whoop? Shame on Reuters for even assigning someone to the story...and then they use a lede like "Quitting marijuana can cause withdrawal symptoms as severe as those from quitting tobacco, a small study suggests." .... What's so severe about being edgy and losing a bit of sleep? I can't stand the way they paint cannabis as evil!

Grrrrr

SirSmokaALot

I find that funny.... when i have no ciggs... i freak out.... Whenever i run out of my magical herb.... i'd just get minor headaches which goes away in 1 day span and that's all i ever get from not smoking my herb.

Jake

Why have I been able to take many breaks from MJ? I usually smoke every day, but I still can recognize when I need a break, and it's really not hard at all to go a week or two without it. Seems to do some good, it's almost a "renewal" period.

I haven't been able to go longer than about 2 days without a cigarette from the day I got addicted....

I like my three drugs: Coffee, cigarettes, and MJ. Whenever I take a break with one, it just means that one of the others will be used more often. All of these drugs are connected also....I can't quit smoking cigarettes unless I switch to drinking tea.

MJ doesn't do anything like that. When I take a break, I'll probably smoke a little more cigarettes or drink a little more coffee, but only for a day or two. I don't have to switch my brand of cigarettes or drink tea because MJ doesn't seem to "connect" itself with other habits.

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wetfin1

Come on you know you'd be to stone to shoot striate. They know that to, but if you do they'll just say,
you see it makes them crazy. The pen is mighter than the sword. If you are willing to put your life on the line like that then just fire another joint, think of people you can write too, start some kind of campaign. However, if you are going to use a gun you should just go head and shoot yourself for all
the good a gun is going to do for your cause and the action will dam the rest of us.