What Are Tolerance Breaks and Why Do Young Adults Take Them? A Qualitative Investigation of Temporary Abstinence Breaks from Cannabis

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated young adults’ (YAs) experiences with tolerance breaks (temporary abstinence from cannabis; T-breaks). Method: In Study 1, 15 YAs who used cannabis completed a qualitative interview. In Study 2, 66 YAs who used cannabis at least 2x/week completed online survey items assessing T-break familiarity, definitions, motivations, and experiences. Data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results: In Study 1, five themes were identified: (1) time frames for T-breaks were variable but brief and temporary, (2) T-breaks were motivated by tolerance reduction (3) and other motives, (4) withdrawal is an early barrier; positive outcomes occurred with longer breaks, (5) some YAs viewed T-breaks as unnecessary/unachievable.  Study 2 findings demonstrated that YAs were familiar with T-breaks and most had attempted a T-break in the past year; greater variability in T-break motivations was apparent in Study 2. Conclusions: Results suggest that YAs define T-breaks as an intentional and temporary period of abstinence from cannabis, regardless of motivation.