The study examined a community based cannabis cessation program in Norway (CCP). The CCP uses a combination of cognitive therapy and psychoeducation and covers the normal withdrawal period for cannabis smoking cessation (up to 8 weeks), comprising \~15 individual sessions. From 2005 onwards, the CCP was implemented as a low-threshold community-based program in several Norwegian municipalities, e.g., Kristiansand, Fredrikstad and Oslo. The study had an observational one-group pre- / post test design. Outcomes was changes in cannabis use, mental distress, well-being, social network and sense of coherence (SoC) measured post-intervention (T2) and at a 3 months follow-up (T3).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
102
Lundqvist and Ericsson developed the 'Cannabis Cessation Program' (CCP, Nordic abbreviation: HAP) in Sweden in the 1990s. The method uses a combination of cognitive therapy and psychoeducation and covers the normal withdrawal period for cannabis smoking cessation (up to 8 weeks), comprising \~15 individual sessions. It describes a medical, a psychological, and a social phase, in which the participant is helped to recognize and address typical problems related to each phase, e.g., physical and psychological withdrawal problems. The overarching aim of the program is to help cannabis users to reorganize thinking patterns that developed while they were using cannabis and increase their social and psychological coping skills in relation to quitting cannabis use. The CCP manual has been translated into eight languages, e.g., Norwegian.
Social Services, Fredrikstad Municipality
Fredrikstad, Norway
Kristiansand Municipality, Cannabis Cessation Program
Kristiansand, Norway
City Centre Outreach Service, Agency for Social and Welfare Services
Oslo, Norway
Cannabis use
Days with cannabis use last 30 days
Time frame: Changes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, on average 5 months
Mental distress
The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) 25-item version was used to measure mental distress. Each of the 25 items was scored on a 4-point scale (1-4). An average score was computed, indicating a global severity index of mental distress (GSI), where higher scores indicated greater distress. Clinical cut-off = 1.75
Time frame: Changes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, on average 5 months
Well-being
The Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) was used to assess well-being. The scale has four visual analogue items on personal, interpersonal, social, and general well-being, and each item are scored from 0 = bad up to 10 = good. The items are then summed (range 0-40) and a score \<25 indicated scores expected in a clinical population.
Time frame: Changes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, on average 5 months
Social network
Number of current friends with and without problematic substance use
Time frame: Changes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, on average 5 months
Sense of Coherence (SoC)
The Sense of Coherence questionnaire, 29 item version, measures the degree to which the subject feels that he or she has a sense of control over their own lives (manageability - 10 items), that life has meaning (8 items) and that their social life is understandable (comprehensibility - 11 items). Responses to items are scored on a seven-point semantic differential scale. Scores are summed (ranges from 29 - 203) and higher scores indicated a stronger SoC
Time frame: Changes from baseline to post-treatment and follow-up, on average 5 months
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