QUITTING POT, CIGARETTES THE SAME

Users Have Same Withdrawal As Smokers:Study

Withdrawal from heavy use of marijuana is like quitting smoking and
produces similar symptoms, including anger, irritability and
restlessness, according to a new study.

But problems sleeping are more frequent for people cutting out pot,
while mood swings are worse for those trying to kick a cigarette habit.

"These results indicate that some marijuana users experience
withdrawal effects when they try to quit, and that these effects
should be considered by clinicians treating people with problems
related to heavy marijuana use," Ryan Vandrey, of Johns Hopkins
University school of medicine, said in a statement.

He and his team compared the impact of quitting on 12 heavy users of
both marijuana and cigarettes during a six-week study published in the
journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

The six men and six women who took part in the research were randomly
chosen to stop smoking cigarettes, marijuana or both.

They reported their symptoms on a daily basis.

All of the participants had used pot at least 25 days a month and
smoked at least 10 cigarettes a day.

Daily toxicology tests were also done to confirm abstinence.

Half of the participants said they found it easier to abstain from
both substances than it was to give up either one.

Vandrey said the findings have important implications because of the
lack of data on marijuana withdrawal. Until recently, this has led to
these symptoms not being included in medical reference literature.

"Since tobacco withdrawal symptoms are well documented . . . we can
infer from the results of this comparison that marijuana withdrawal is
also clinically significant and should be included in these reference
materials and considered as a target for improving treatment
outcomes," Vandrey added.

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States,
according to Vandrey.

Admissions in substance abuse centres for pot have more than doubled
in that country since the early 1990s.