Community Based Cannabis Cessation Program

NCT04989205 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 005004
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 102
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

The study examined a community based cannabis cessation program in Norway (CCP). The CCP uses a combination of cognitive therapy and psychoeducation and covers the normal withdrawal period for cannabis smoking cessation (up to 8 weeks), comprising \~15 individual sessions. From 2005 onwards, the CCP was implemented as a low-threshold community-based program in several Norwegian municipalities, e.g., Kristiansand, Fredrikstad and Oslo. The study had an observational one-group pre- / post test design. Outcomes was changes in cannabis use, mental distress, well-being, social network and sense of coherence (SoC) measured post-intervention (T2) and at a 3 months follow-up (T3).

Conditions

Cannabis Use

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Cannabis use

  Days with cannabis use last 30 days

  Changes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, on average 5 months

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Mental distress

  Changes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, on average 5 months

• Well-being

  Changes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, on average 5 months

• Social network

  Changes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, on average 5 months

• Sense of Coherence (SoC)

  Changes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, on average 5 months

Study Arms (1)

HAP - group

The target group was individuals who engaged in regular or daily cannabis use, and who were motivated to quit cannabis. The formal inclusion criteria was a Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) score ≥4 and being ≥16 years old. Exclusion criteria was polydrug use where cannabis was not the predominating substance of use and psychiatric comorbidity that was perceived as too severe to handle at the community-based centers .

Behavioral: Cannabis cessation Program

Interventions

Cannabis cessation Program BEHAVIORAL

Lundqvist and Ericsson developed the 'Cannabis Cessation Program' (CCP, Nordic abbreviation: HAP) in Sweden in the 1990s. The method uses a combination of cognitive therapy and psychoeducation and covers the normal withdrawal period for cannabis smoking cessation (up to 8 weeks), comprising \~15 individual sessions. It describes a medical, a psychological, and a social phase, in which the participant is helped to recognize and address typical problems related to each phase, e.g., physical and psychological withdrawal problems. The overarching aim of the program is to help cannabis users to reorganize thinking patterns that developed while they were using cannabis and increase their social and psychological coping skills in relation to quitting cannabis use. The CCP manual has been translated into eight languages, e.g., Norwegian.

HAP - group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years+
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The target group was individuals who engaged in regular or daily cannabis use, and who were motivated to quit cannabis.

You may qualify if:

• Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) score ≥4

You may not qualify if:

• polydrug use where cannabis was not the predominating substance of use
• psychiatric comorbidity that was perceived as too severe to handle at the community-based centers

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sorlandet Hospital HF: lead

Study Sites (3)

Social Services, Fredrikstad Municipality

Fredrikstad, Norway

Location

Kristiansand Municipality, Cannabis Cessation Program

Kristiansand, Norway

Location

City Centre Outreach Service, Agency for Social and Welfare Services

Oslo, Norway

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Vederhus JK, Rorendal M, Skardal M, Naess MO, Clausen T, Kristensen O. Successful outcomes with low-threshold intervention for cannabis use disorders in Norway - an observational study. PLoS One. 2022 Jun 16;17(6):e0269988. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269988. eCollection 2022.

  PMID: 35709178 DERIVED

Study Officials

• John-Kåre Vederhus, PhD

  Addiction Unit, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 12, 2021
• First Posted: August 4, 2021
• Study Start: June 2, 2013
• Primary Completion: January 31, 2017
• Study Completion: January 31, 2017
• Last Updated: February 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2021-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL
• Time Frame: Upon request
• Access Criteria: Upon request

Locations

NO (3)