Abstract
Introduction
Sleep disturbances are commonly reported by chronic marijuana (MJ) users and often identified as reasons for MJ relapse and/or other drug use. In the current study we compared the sleep architecture of 12 heavy MJ users to 11 normal controls.
Methods
Participants in the marijuana group met DSM-V criteria for cannabis use disorder but were otherwise healthy individuals. On the first study day, individuals smoked (1330-1400 hr) 11 puffs from a cannabis cigarette (7% THC). During the next four days, under varying experimental contingencies participants smoked an average of 4.58 (±3.48) day 1, 4.92 (±3.62) day 2, 4.75 (±3.52) day 3, and 4.17 (±3.56) day 4 puffs from cannabis cigarettes (7% THC). Their sleep was recorded the first four study nights using standard polysomnography procedures at Henry Ford Sleep and Research Center Hospital, under an 8-hr fixed time in bed (2300-0700 hr). Controls (n=11) had no history of illicit drug use or medical illness and were not shift workers. Neither group reported a history of sleep-related disorders. PSG recordings were scored using Rechtschaffen and Kales standard criteria. Sleep measures included sleep efficiency (total sleep time/time in bed * 100), latency to persistent sleep, and percent of time spent in Stage 1, 2, 3/4, and rapid eye movement (REM).
Results
PSGs taken across all four nights of inpatient stay showed that MJ users spent significantly more time in REM sleep compared to controls (means 24.91, 24.64, 24.42, 24.13 vs 18.81, p<.001) and less time in stage 3/4 sleep (means 4.33, 4.79, 4.53, 6.91 vs 15.68, p<.001). MJ users showed reduced sleep efficiency compared to controls on night 4 (means 82.03 vs 90.32, p=0.039), and increased latency to persistent sleep on night 1 (means 6.04 vs 17.77, p=0.026).
Conclusion
These data show reduced sleep efficiency, lightened sleep (reduced stage 3/4), as well as an increased duration during REM sleep in heavy MJ users during decreased use, findings that are predictive of relapse in other drug abuse populations.
Support (if any)
NIH/NIDA R21 DA040770 (LHL)
Effect of Beta-Blocker Therapy, Maximal Heart Rate, and Exercise Capacity During Stress Testing on Long-Term Survival (from The Henry Ford Exercise Testing Project)