Cannabis Compound Abuse Treatment & Management

  • Author: Lawrence Genen, MD, MBA; Chief Editor: David Bienenfeld, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 2, 2012
 

Medical Care

Acute intoxication of cannabis usually resolves unremarkably within 4-6 hours and is best managed by the following measures:

  • Frequent reassurance and maintenance of a nonthreatening environment
  • Minimal stimuli
  • Use of a specifically assigned nurse to calm the patient
  • Judicious use of benzodiazepines (BZs) when significant anxiety is present
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Consultations

People who use marijuana and are suffering from biological, psychological, or social impairment from marijuana use should be evaluated and, if necessary, treated by a psychiatrist.

  • The treatment of marijuana abuse follows the general principals of substance abuse, with particular attention paid to psychological and social aspects.
  • Marijuana may be one of many drugs abused, and total abstinence from all psychoactive substances (with the exception of caffeine) is the treatment goal.
  • Interventions may include psychiatric evaluation, occupational and family assessment, and implementation of a comprehensive treatment plan.
    • Psychological issues (eg, denial, minimization, rationalization) must be confronted.
    • Often, cessation of drug use and subsequent cognitive improvement result in self-motivation and changes in the occupational and social well-being of the patient.
    • Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding drug-related situations, may be encouraged.
  • Identify and address low self-esteem, mood disorders, family problems, and other stresses.
  • One-to-one therapy, group therapy, and even hospitalization may be necessary components of the treatment plan. (Patients with uncomplicated marijuana use in the absence of other psychiatric or medical problems are rarely hospitalized.)
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Lawrence Genen, MD, MBA  Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

John Franzen, MD  Resident Physician, Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska-Creighton University

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

William F Haning III, MD, FASAM, DFAPA  Professor of Psychiatry, Director of Graduate Affairs, Office of the Dean, Program Director, Addiction Psychiatry/Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Hawaii, John A Burns School of Medicine; Principal Investigator and Co-Director, Pacific Addiction Research Center

William F Haning III, MD, FASAM, DFAPA is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, and Hawaii Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Barry I Liskow, MD  Professor of Psychiatry, Vice Chairman, Psychiatry Department, Director, Psychiatric Residency Program, University of Kansas School of Medicine; Director, Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, The University of Kansas Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Harold H Harsch, MD  Program Director of Geropsychiatry, Department of Geriatrics/Gerontology, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Medicine, Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin

Harold H Harsch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: lilly Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Forest Labs None None; Pfizer Grant/research funds Speaking and teaching; Northstar None None; Novartis Grant/research funds research; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Sunovion Speaking and teaching; Otsuke Grant/research funds reseach; GlaxoSmithKline Grant/research funds research; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

David Bienenfeld, MD  Professor of Psychiatry, Vice-Chair and Director of Residency Training, Department of Psychiatry, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine

David Bienenfeld, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and Association for Academic Psychiatry

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors Robert C Daly, MB, ChB, MPH, BCh; Can M Savasman, MD; Caroline Fisher, MD, PhD; and Lina Cassandra Vawter, MD to the development and writing of this article.

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Cannabis sativa.
The major psychoactive component of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
 
 
 
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