Ask the Expert: How Is Cannabis Use Disorder Diagnosed and Treated?
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
A growing body of research shows the effectiveness of several treatment options for cannabis use disorder (CUD).
In this Ask the Expert interview, Dr. Redonna Chandler discusses the evidence surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of CUD. Dr. Chandler previously served as Director of the HIV Research Program and the HEALing Communities Study at the National Institute on Drug Abuse and now serves as a scientific advisor at the Addiction Policy Forum.
Dr. Chandler discusses psychosocial and behavioral interventions—such as motivational enhancement therapy (MET), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), contingency management, and family-based interventions—including the evidence supporting their effectiveness in improving treatment engagement, recovery, and health outcomes.
Key topics covered include:
Explaining DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and levels of severity for CUD
Recognizing cannabis withdrawal symptoms and their clinical significance
Reviewing current research on effective behavioral treatment approaches
