Why Some Former Marijuana Smokers Relapse

According to the conclusions of a new scientific investigation, the emergence of a series of specific withdrawal symptoms can be associated with a higher risk of former marijuana users relapsing into their old ways.

The research was conducted by Australian experts at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), led by scientist David Allsop, PhD, form the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Center. The work was published in the latest issue of the open-access journal PLoS ONE.

The team found that symptoms such as physical tension, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, mood swings and appetite loss were more strongly correlated with a higher risk of relapse than other symptoms, such as experiencing hot flashes, night sweats and fatigue, PsychCentral reports.

However, a series of solution might be at hand. “Tailoring treatments to target withdrawal symptoms contributing to functional impairment during a quit attempt may improve treatment outcomes,” Allsop says.