Stress and Marijuana Cue-elicited Craving and Reactivity

Although use of marijuana is widespread, little research has focused on the treatment of marijuana use disorders or on predictors of relapse. Although several factors contributing to relapse have been explored in other dependencies (i.e., alcohol, cocaine), little research has focused on drug cue-related or stress-induced relapse in marijuana-dependent individuals. Cue reactivity is a construct measured in a laboratory procedure where an individual's subjective, behavioral, and physiological responses are assessed following exposure to drug-related environmental cues or stressors. Investigating the effects of drug-related environmental cues and stress in marijuana-dependent individuals will be useful in guiding treatment development.

Inclusion criteria

• Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Methods (DSM)-IV Criteria for Marijuana Dependence
• Between the ages of 18 and 65
• Must abstain from marijuana use the day of testing and other drug use three days prior to testing

Exclusion criteria

• Must not be taking any psychoactive medication, or medication that alters the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) Axis functioning
• Must not be taking any medications that alter heart rate or skin conductance monitoring
• Cannot meet criteria for current major Axis I disorder (may alter response to stress)
• Cannot be morbidly obese (Body Mass Index >39)
• Cannot meet current abuse or dependence criteria of other substances in past 90 days
• Must not have a medical condition that impacts HPA functioning (Hypertension, chronic pain, Addison's disease)