Tier 2 — strong

A double-blind randomized controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine in cannabis-dependent adolescents

Kevin M Gray, Matthew J Carpenter, Nathaniel L Baker, Stacia M DeSantis, Elisabeth Kryway, Karen J Hartwell, Aimee L McRae-Clark, Kathleen T Brady
Am J Psychiatry 2012 169(8):805-812

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 22706327
PubMed Central
PMC3410961
DOI
10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12010055
Funding
Funding disclosure was not located in the indexed record reviewed; consult the source publication for the full funding statement.
Competing interests
Competing-interest disclosure was not located in the indexed record reviewed; consult the source publication for the full declaration.

Study snapshot

DesignRandomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
ModelHuman
Sample116 cannabis-dependent adolescents
InterventionNAC 1,200 mg twice daily versus placebo alongside contingency management and counseling
Duration8 weeks
EndpointsUrine cannabinoid abstinence; Cannabis use

What the study showed, in plain terms

Positive youth cannabis trial conducted on top of a strong behavioral treatment platform.

Key findings

Adolescents receiving NAC had higher odds of negative urine cannabinoid tests than placebo.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Benefit occurred with contingency management and counseling; results did not replicate in a large adult trial.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology