Cannabinoids for the treatment of cannabis use disorder: New avenues for reaching and helping youth?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cannabinoids for the treatment of cannabis use disorder

T2 - New avenues for reaching and helping youth?

AU - Rømer Thomsen, Kristine

AU - Thylstrup, Birgitte

AU - Kenyon, Emily A

AU - Lees, Rachel

AU - Baandrup, Lone

AU - Feldstein Ewing, Sarah W

AU - Freeman, Tom P

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - Cannabis use peaks during adolescence and emerging adulthood, and cannabis use disorder (CUD) is associated with a wide range of adverse outcomes. This is particularly pertinent in youth, because the developing brain may be more vulnerable to adverse effects of frequent cannabis use. Combining evidence-based psychosocial interventions with safe and effective pharmacotherapy is a potential avenue to improve youth outcomes, but we lack approved CUD pharmacotherapies. Here, we review new potential avenues for helping youth with CUD, with a particular focus on cannabinoid-based treatments. Evidence from placebo-controlled RCTs suggests synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) decreases withdrawal symptoms, but not cannabis use, in adults with daily cannabis use/CUD, while findings regarding formulations containing THC combined with cannabidiol (CBD) are mixed. Preliminary evidence from two placebo-controlled RCTs in adults with CUD suggests that both Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase inhibitors and CBD can reduce cannabis use. However, larger trials are needed to strengthen the evidence. Findings from adults point to cannabinoid-based treatments as a potential strategy that should be examined in youth with CUD.

AB - Cannabis use peaks during adolescence and emerging adulthood, and cannabis use disorder (CUD) is associated with a wide range of adverse outcomes. This is particularly pertinent in youth, because the developing brain may be more vulnerable to adverse effects of frequent cannabis use. Combining evidence-based psychosocial interventions with safe and effective pharmacotherapy is a potential avenue to improve youth outcomes, but we lack approved CUD pharmacotherapies. Here, we review new potential avenues for helping youth with CUD, with a particular focus on cannabinoid-based treatments. Evidence from placebo-controlled RCTs suggests synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) decreases withdrawal symptoms, but not cannabis use, in adults with daily cannabis use/CUD, while findings regarding formulations containing THC combined with cannabidiol (CBD) are mixed. Preliminary evidence from two placebo-controlled RCTs in adults with CUD suggests that both Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase inhibitors and CBD can reduce cannabis use. However, larger trials are needed to strengthen the evidence. Findings from adults point to cannabinoid-based treatments as a potential strategy that should be examined in youth with CUD.

KW - Cannabis use disorder

KW - Cannabis

KW - Treatment

KW - Youth

KW - Pharmacotherapy

KW - Cannabinoids

KW - Cannabidiol

KW - Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

KW - FAAH inhibitors

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85120305919&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.033

DO - 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.033

M3 - Review

C2 - 34822876

SN - 0149-7634

VL - 132

SP - 169

EP - 180

JO - Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

JF - Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

ER -