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Cannabis effects on sleep, circadian rhythms, and light sensitivity in young people

Award Number: R01DA061223
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/15/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2029

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Cannabis effects on sleep, circadian rhythms, and light sensitivity in young people - PROJECT SUMMARY Problematic cannabis use rates have increased in ’emerging adulthood’ (age 18-25), an age also characterized by high rates of insomnia and the developmental peak in a tendency toward eveningness (preference for later sleep timing). Cannabis-sleep relationships are increasingly recognized as pertinent for understanding risk for cannabis misuse, particularly given the high prevalence of cannabis use as a sleep aid. Insomnia and an evening chronotype are risk factors for cannabis use, and cannabis use affects sleep, but the mechanisms underlying these cannabis-sleep relationships are poorly understood. Experimental rodent studies implicate cannabis effects on homeostatic sleep drive (increased) and circadian photosensitivity (reduced), although some effects are evident only in males. However, these mechanisms have not been sufficiently investigated in humans, with scant research using the sleep EEG measures necessary to assess homeostatic sleep drive in relation to cannabis use, and no published studies examining cannabis effects on circadian photosensitivity. In response to RFA-DA-24-021, we propose to study the effects of cannabis use and discontinuation on sleep and circadian characteristics, including sleep physiology and circadian photosensitivity, in 60 emerging adults (18-25 y/o; 50% female) reporting regular cannabis use. We will examine participants throughout a 1-week Baseline period of regular cannabis use followed by a 4-week Cannabis Discontinuation reinforced by a contingency management protocol. Homeostatic sleep drive will be assessed at home using sleep EEG headbands during Baseline (on both nights of cannabis use and non-use), as well as during early and extended abstinence during the Discontinuation. Circadian photosensitivity and circadian phase will be assessed in the laboratory at Baseline and after Discontinuation. A Control group of 30 age- and sex-matched healthy-sleeping emerging adults without current cannabis use will undergo all Baseline procedures. Aim 1 will examine the effects of cannabis use and discontinuation on the homeostatic sleep drive. Aim 2 will examine the effects of cannabis use and discontinuation on circadian photosensitivity and phase. An exploratory aim will examine sex differences in cannabis effects on sleep, circadian rhythms, and light responsivity.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $452,026 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	3	5/7/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$452,026
														Subtotal = $452,026

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $452,234 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	002	2	4/14/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$452,234
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	001	1	4/1/2025	NEW	$0
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	10/21/2024	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $452,234

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $453,137 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	6/13/2024	NEW	$453,137
														Subtotal = $453,137

Grand Total All Awards = $1,357,397

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Cannabis effects on sleep, circadian rhythms, and light sensitivity in young people

Award Number: R01DA061223

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/15/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2029

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