Cannabis drugs help fight cannabis addiction

An Australian study has shown that cannabis-based drugs help combat cannabis addiction, one of the most widely used drugs in the world.

An article on the clinical trial of the University of Sydney and NSW Health provides the first convincing evidence that a drug called cannabinoid agonist – which targets brain receptors – could reduce the rate of relapse .

The document published today in the American Medical Association's JAMA Internal Medicine.

Lead author, Nick Lintzeris, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney and Director of Substance Abuse and Alcohol Services, Local Health District of South East Sydney said the study should give hope to cannabis addicts, the leading cause of drug treatment episodes in Australia.

We have never had the evidence before that medications can be effective in treating cannabis addiction – this is the first major study to show that it is a safe and effective approach.

The principles are very similar to nicotine replacement; you provide patients with a safer medication than the medication they already use, and you badociate that with medical support and counseling to help people cope with their illicit cannabis use. "

Professor Nick Lintzeris, University of Sydney

Cannabis concentrate, which contains equal proportions of psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is sprayed under the tongue and avoids the health effects badociated with smoking cannabis, such as breathing problems.

Nabiximols have been used primarily to treat painful symptoms badociated with multiple sclerosis and have been registered in Australia. There are alternatives to medical cannabis, but these are only available as part of special access plans and, unlike the drug under test, they also require Therapeutic's approval. Goods Administration (TGA).

This large, 12-week, outpatient clinical study of 128 participants taking nabiximol-based drugs followed a previous study by the same research team that had previously shown that nabiximols reduced withdrawal symptoms as part of a treatment program. short-term hospital treatment. "The latest study published today is all the more important as it shows that nabiximols can be effective in helping patients change their cannabis use in the long term," says Professor Lintzeris.

Professor Iain McGregor, Academic Director of the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics of the University, co-authored the following article: "Worldwide, we see patients under medicinal cannabis moving away. the traditional way of administering smoked cannabis, this … new study completes … this trend showing that an oral spray can be an effective substitute for smoked cannabis among heavy recreational users seeking treatment for their use of cannabis. "

Professor Lintzeris said that one of the important elements of this essay supported by the National Council for Medical Research and Health was that only cannabis users had been recruited for trying in vain to limit their consumption.

"Our study is an important step in addressing the problem of lack of effective treatments – currently, four out of five patients return to regular use within six months of a medical or psychological intervention."

Trial and taking of drugs:

• -In the clinical trial, participants received an average dose of about 18 sprays per day, each 0.1 ml spray containing 2.7 mg of THC and 2.5 mg of CBD.

  Participants treated with nabiximols used significantly less unlawful cannabis than patients randomly badigned to placebo.

  -The drug was badociated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other therapeutic support for a holistic approach.

  -The health and behavioral benefits of cannabis replacement include removing patients from their usual drinking habits.

  -This first large randomized controlled trial in outpatient cannabis extracts revealed withdrawal suppression and cravings, with improved physical and psychological well-being.