Abstract
Cannabis withdrawal occurs after cessation of prolonged and heavy cannabis use.Prior to DSM-V, cannabis withdrawal had not been recognized as a separate syndrome. Intense daily use of cannabis increases the risk of cannabis dependence and the risk of cannabis withdrawal after cessation.Earlier initiation of cannabis use, increased use of more potent forms of cannabis (e.g. the flowering heads of the female cannabis plant) and frequent use of water-pipes may lead to increased serum levels of tetrahydrocannabinol and a higher risk of dependence. Cannabis withdrawal causes functional impairment which is dependent on symptom severity, and is predictive of relapse to cannabis. Onset of symptoms is usually within 24–48 h of abstinence, typically reaching a peak within the first week.Symptoms may persist for up to 3–4 weeks. Withdrawal symptoms may cause discomfort, distress and functional impairment and are a significant barrier to achieving abstinence.
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Pasic, J. (2018). Cannabis Withdrawal. In: Nordstrom, K., Wilson, M. (eds) Quick Guide to Psychiatric Emergencies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58260-3_42
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58260-3_42
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