MARIJUANA USERS CAN BECOME ADDICTED

NEW YORK, Jun 12-- Although marijuana is not considered to be as addicting
as cocaine or heroine, a new report suggests that chronic users of the
illicit substance may find it surprisingly hard to kick the habit. Just like
those trying to quit using alcohol or other drugs, people addicted to
marijuana may experience irritability and anxiety during withdrawal,
according to a Connecticut researcher.

Patients enrolled in a marijuana addiction treatment options study claim
"...they didn't know how hooked they were until they tried to quit,'' said
Dr. Ronald Kadden, of the University of Connecticut Health Center in
Farmington, Connecticut. The preliminary findings are from a 3-year project
looking at the physically addictive nature of marijuana.

The Marijuana Treatment Project is a multicenter study that began in 1997 to
investigate treatment options for patients who are dependent on marijuana.
Kadden's group is currently treating 133 patients, with ages ranging from 18
to the late 50s, with one of two treatment options. All of the patients used
marijuana daily or many times per week for many years.

One group receives two 1-hour individual sessions with a counselor who
provides motivational enhancement therapy to identify the patient's
strengths and resources. The remaining patients receive the same therapy
plus seven additional 1-hour sessions that concentrate on coping skills and
allow for more active individual case management by the counselors.

On stopping marijuana use, the patients often have physical symptoms similar
to those experienced by patients withdrawing from alcohol, barbiturates,
heroine, and cocaine, Kadden told Reuters Health, but the symptoms tend to
be less severe than with other abused substances.

Typical of withdrawal, patients exhibit irritability, anxiousness and
ambivalence concerning their personal finances, health, and relationships.
The ambivalence expressed by the study subjects has been striking, according
to Kadden.

Some chronic marijuana users are afraid to quit, Kadden says, because much
of their lives have been spent using marijuana. Some who began using the
drug early in life have impaired social and interpersonal skills because
they were high ''during critical periods of their adolescence,'' according
to Kadden.

The Marijuana Treatment Project is still enrolling individuals. Those
interested can contact the study team at the University of Connecticut
Health Center.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett