Use of N-acetylcysteine in cannabis-dependent adolescents.

Clinical Question: Can N-acetylcysteine use in conjunction with cessation therapy and contingency management improve successful cannabis cessation in cannabis-dependent adolescents?

Clinical Bottom Line

1. In a double-blinded randomized controlled trial of cannabis dependent adolescents , findings support use of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) along with psychosocial treatment yield a positive primary cessation outcome.

    

2. NAC treatment group had greater than twice the odds compared with the placebo group of having negative urine cannabinoid tests while on treatment.

3. Secondary abstinence outcomes favored the NAC treatment group but were not statistically significant.

4. NAC was well tolerated with minimal adverse effects.

 NACforCannabisDependence.pdf