12-week aerobic exercise program for people using cannabis

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

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.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

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 it's running

• 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

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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• Can tACS modulate motivation and reward signals in cannabis use disorder and depression

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• Sex differences in how cannabis affects people who regularly use it

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• Reducing cannabis use to improve daily functioning.

  This program will try an 8-week combination of motivational interviewing, computerized CBT (CBT4CBT), and small financial rewards to help adults with cannabis use disorder cut back on cannabis.

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.