Quitting Marijuana Use: Self-Report Study of Quitting Strategies and Withdrawal Symptoms

Background:

• Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the world, yet relatively little is known about users who try to quit without formal treatment ( spontaneous quitting). Studies have suggested that there are some common strategies that many individuals use in spontaneous quitting, such as changing one s lifestyle or identity, reminding oneself of negative consequences, support from family and friends, and religion. However, more research is needed to determine potential treatment strategies for marijuana use.

Objectives:

• To identify strategies used to help with marijuana quitting among non-treatment seeking adult marijuana users.
• To identify withdrawal symptoms experienced during marijuana quitting and their relationship to the quitting strategies used and the outcome of the quit attempt.
• To evaluate whether subgroups of marijuana users differ in their experience of marijuana quitting.

Eligibility:

• Individuals at least 18 years of age who have made at least one attempt to quit marijuana use.

Design:

• The study will consist of one visit of approximately 1 to 2 hours.
• Participants will fill out three questionnaires. The questionnaires have different types of questions, and will ask about background and lifestyle, marijuana use and craving patterns and behaviors, and difficulties in previous attempts to quit using marijuana.