12-week aerobic exercise program for people using cannabis
Exercise Intervention as Treatment for People Using Cannabis (ExIT-C)-a Randomized Controlled Trial to Investigate the Effectiveness of Aerobic Exercise on Cannabis Dependence and Use Disorder
This program will try a 12-week indoor cycling regimen to see if regular exercise reduces cannabis dependence and the severity of cannabis use disorder in adults aged 18–40.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hong Kong) |
| Trial ID | NCT07091292 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This interventional program enrolls adults 18–40 who use cannabis as their primary substance and meet criteria for cannabis dependence or cannabis use disorder. Participants will undertake a supervised 12-week aerobic exercise regimen (indoor cycling) delivered at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong, with attendance and fitness monitored. Outcomes include measures of dependence severity (SDS/DSM-5/ICD), cannabis use patterns, and physical health markers before and after the intervention. The approach leverages exercise as a low-cost, low-stigma option with minimal side effects, building on exercise successes in other substance use disorders.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 18–40 who primarily use cannabis, meet criteria for cannabis dependence or DSM-5 cannabis use disorder, can read English or Chinese, can give informed consent, and have no contraindications to exercise.
Not a fit: People outside the 18–40 age range, those with medical contraindications to exercise, severe psychiatric instability, or for whom cannabis is not the primary substance of abuse may be unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce cannabis dependence and CUD severity while improving physical health and offering a low-cost, low-stigma treatment option.
How similar studies have performed: Exercise interventions have shown benefits for tobacco, alcohol, and stimulant use disorders, but evidence specifically for cannabis use disorder is limited, so this approach is relatively novel for CUD.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Young adults of 18-40 years old * Able to read and communicate in English and/or Chinese * Able to give informed consent * Using cannabis or marijuana as the primary psychoactive substance of abuse * Suffering from cannabis addiction, defined by: i. Cannabis Dependence with an SDS score ≥ 3, or ii. Cannabis Use Disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5), or iii. Cannabis Harmful Use or Dependence according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) or Clinical descriptions and diagnostic requirements for International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Exclusion Criteria: * Age \< 18 or \> 40 years old * Unable to read English or Chinese * Unable to give informed consent * Absolute and/or relative contraindications to exercise training as indicated by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+) and the electronic Physical Activity Readiness Medical Examination (ePARmed-X+) * Had been diagnosed with the following disorders, including: i. Neurodevelopmental Disorders DSM-5: Intellectual Disabilities, Communication Disorders, Specific Learning Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Motor Disorders ICD-11: Disorders of intellectual development (6A00), Developmental speech or language disorders (6A01), Autism spectrum disorder (6A02), Developmental learning disorder (6A03), Developmental motor coordination disorder (6A04), Stereotyped movement disorder (6A06), Primary tics or tic disorders (8A05.0) ii. Other DSM-5 defined Substance Use Disorder greater than mild in severity (i.e., severity score ≥ 2), except for tobacco or caffeine iii. Neurocognitive Disorders (DSM-5, or ICD-11 6D70-72 \& 6D80-86)
Where this trial is running
Hong Kong
- Queen Mary Hospital — Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Albert KK Chung, MBBS(HK)
- Email: chungkka@hku.hk
- Phone: +852-2255-4486
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.