What side effects are associated with this type of intervention?

Common treatments for cannabis abuse include NAC, gabapentin, and medical cannabis. NAC is generally well-tolerated with no significant differences in adverse effects compared to placebo. Gabapentin can cause occasional headaches, insomnia, and mood changes but is also generally well-tolerated. Medical cannabis, particularly non-inhaled forms, may lead to transient cognitive impairment, drowsiness, impaired attention, nausea, and dizziness. In contrast, breathwork workshops, which focus on controlled breathing exercises, aim to reduce stress and cravings without the pharmacologic side effects associated with these treatments.

What prior FDA approvals exist?

As of now, there are no FDA-approved medications specifically for the treatment of cannabis abuse. Current research is exploring various behavioral and pharmacologic interventions. The breathwork workshop, which uses controlled breathing exercises to influence the autonomic nervous system and reduce stress and cravings, is an example of a behavioral approach being studied. Other behavioral therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET), are commonly used to treat substance use disorders, including cannabis abuse.

What other types of research exist?

Promising, novel alternatives to breathwork workshops for cannabis use disorder include clinical hypnosis, guided imagery, and hatha yoga. These methods have shown efficacy in reducing cravings and managing stress, which are critical components in treating substance use disorders.

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Behavioral Intervention

Breathwork for Cannabis Use Disorder

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Silvia J Franco Corso, M.D

Research Sponsored by Elias Dakwar

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

18-70 years of age

Be older than 18 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up measured during breathing session

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial tests a workshop with special breathing exercises and music, along with brief counseling, for adults seeking help for cannabis use disorder. The breathing and music aim to change how participants feel to make behavior change easier, while the counseling helps them stay motivated and avoid relapse.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adults aged 18-70 who are seeking treatment for cannabis use disorder as defined by the DSM-V. It's not open to individuals with active substance use disorders (other than cannabis, nicotine, or caffeine), psychotic illnesses, dissociative disorders, severe withdrawal history, dementia, epilepsy or seizures, cardiac issues like arrhythmia or heart failure, asthma, panic disorder or other respiratory illnesses.

What is being tested?

The study is testing a breathwork workshop intervention to see if it's safe and helpful for people struggling with cannabis use disorder. The goal is to assess whether this approach could be a feasible and acceptable treatment option.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this trial involves a non-medical intervention in the form of breathwork exercises there may be minimal side effects; however specific side effects are not detailed in the provided information.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

Select...

I am between 18 and 70 years old.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ 24 hours after the breathing session.

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~24 hours after the breathing session.

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 24 hours after the breathing session. for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Acceptability of the breathwork session

Safety of the breathing session

Secondary study objectives

Change in Cue Reactivity

Change in Motivation to Quit

Change in cannabis use

+4 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Breathwork groupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Treatment-seeking individuals with cannabis use disorder who will participate in the 1-week breathwork workshop.

0 / 1Eligibility criteria met

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.

Mechanism Of Action

Side Effect Profile

Prior Approvals

Other Research

Common treatments for Cannabis Abuse include behavioral and pharmacological approaches. Behavioral treatments like Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (BBTI) and cognitive-behavioral stress management focus on improving sleep and managing stress, which can reduce cannabis cravings and usage. Mindfulness interventions aim to decouple the association between cravings and cannabis use by promoting awareness and stress reduction. Pharmacological treatments such as varenicline, gabapentin, and cannabidiol work by modulating neurotransmitter systems to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. These mechanisms are crucial for patients as they address the underlying stress and cravings that drive cannabis use, similar to the goals of controlled breathing exercises in the Breathwork Workshop.

A pilot randomized clinical trial of Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia to reduce problematic cannabis use among trauma-exposed young adults.Cognitive-behavioral stress management for individuals with substance use disorders: a pilot study.