Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder Among Adults With Comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder — MJ-ADHD  

Cannabis Use Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title: Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder Among Adults With Comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The proposed protocol is a double-blind, placebo-controlled outpatient study of the safety and benefit of Extended-release mixed amphetamine salt (Adderall-XR, MAS-XR) in the treatment of individuals with Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) and Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The investigators plan to enroll 50 and randomize 40 of these patients in the trial. The primary objective of the study is to determine the efficacy of MAS-XR in promoting cannabis abstinence among individuals with CUD and in promoting a decrease of ADHD symptoms.

Clinical Trial Description

ADHD is common in substance use disorder patients in general and cannabis use disorder (CUD) in particular, occurring at rates substantially greater than in the general population. A meta-analysis found that approximately 23% of substance abusers seeking treatment have childhood and/or adult ADHD. Moreover, ADHD was overrepresented in adults with CUD compared to other substance use disorder patients seeking treatment. The importance in treating CUD individuals who also have ADHD is underscored by findings demonstrating that individuals with co-occurring ADHD and substance use disorders are a particularly intractable group: they exhibit earlier onset of use, more severe use, a more complicated pattern of remission/relapse, and poorer treatment outcomes relative to those without ADHD. Yet, to date, ADHD individuals with CUD have not been adequately studied. The investigators have found that in their treatment research studies targeting cannabis dependence that a substantial percentage (35%) have screened positive for adult ADHD, rates that are higher than participants in their cocaine use disorder clinical trial and almost 8x greater than rates found in the general population. Thus, this appears to be a sizable cannabis-abusing group warranting much greater clinical attention than they are currently receiving.

The goal is to demonstrate feasibility, tolerability, and estimate effect size for purposes of planning future more definitive trials. Because of the research team's extensive experience in working with stimulant medication in treating ADHD in cocaine-dependent populations, the large effect size of amphetamine in treating adult ADHD, and notable reduction in cocaine use and ADHD symptoms in cocaine-dependent ADHD adults, the investigators will explore the efficacy of Adderall-XR (MAS-XR) for the treatment of cannabis use disorder and ADHD. The study is a 12 week placebo controlled double-blind trial. The maximum maintained dose will be 80 mg of MAS-XR daily. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
• Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Cannabis Use Disorder
• Disease
• Hyperkinesis
• Marijuana Abuse

• NCT number: NCT02803229
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: New York State Psychiatric Institute
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2/Phase 3
• Start date: July 2016
• Completion date: June 2020