Pubdate: Mon, 26 Nov 2012
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html
Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Jamie Komarnicki
Page: B3

RESEARCH AIMS TO AID MARIJUANA QUITTERS

Study looks into addiction recovery

A Calgary researcher trying to learn more about how people recover
from marijuana abuse says a new study indicates users who gave up the
drug for good when they quit had experienced the most severe symptoms
in the past.

University of Calgary PhD candidate Jonathan Stea has concluded an
early analysis of data collected from 126 marijuana users who
recovered from past cannabis dependency problems.

About one in 10 users of the widely smoked illicit drug become hooked.
But there's little solid data on cannabis abuse - and how to help
those with a marijuana problem successfully recover, Stea said.

"It's naive to presume no one will become addicted to it in a way
that's harmful to the person," he said.

"You can imagine if you happen to be one of the individuals in the
minority who develop a cannabis disorder or addiction, and all you
have around you is (claims) it's not addicting, that can be very
confusing and stigmatizing. "They deserve good treatment resources."

As part of his dissertation, last fall the student recruited dozens of
volunteers who had consumed the drug to the point it harmed their
work, school career or relationships. These were people who had also
overcome their marijuana dependency and now either abstained or
consumed only infrequently.

Volunteers underwent two hour interviews, Stea said. Researchers asked
a range of questions, including why they wanted to kick the habit,
what they did to achieve that goal, and whether they sought
professional help. The average age of participants was 37; about 70
per cent were male.

The majority had experienced a mental health problem, such as
depression or anxiety, at some point in their life, according to Stea.
One of the top reasons for quitting was a wish for a "major lifestyle
change."

The interviews revealed that the abstinent group reported more severe
cannabis problems when they were hooked compared to moderate users -
an experience similar to people who had abused alcohol, said Stea.

The team now wants to dig into comparisons between those who gave up
the drug and those who use it moderately, he added.
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