CANDIS Curriculum

Evidence-based and abstinence-oriented, CANDIS is an effective, affordable tool for helping both youth and adult clients overcome their dependence on cannabis.

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An evidence-based, abstinence-oriented cannabis treatment program, CANDIS was developed by Dr. Eva Hoch, an award-winning and internationally renowned expert in the treatment of cannabis use disorder.

Using motivational enhancement therapy (MET), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychosocial problem-solving (PPS) and contingency management, this program has proven success with its three main objectives for clients: to realize problematic cannabis use, to participate in treatment, and to abstain from use using relapse prevention skills.

The CANDIS program begins with a client assessment and continues with ten sessions that focus on:

Physical and psychological effects of marijuana.
Internal and external triggers.
Strategies for change.
Co-occurring disorders.
Withdrawal and relapse management.
Cravings, problem solving, and refusal skills.

More than 1,200 health professionals have already been trained in using the CANDIS program in five European countrie: Poland, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Germany. 

The sessions are:
Session 1: Introduction to the CANDIS program
Sesson 2: Benefits of use and benefits of change.
Session 3: Understanding cannabis use patterns
Session 4: Preparing a target day
Session 5: Debriefing the target day, and dealing with cravings
Session 6: Relapse prevention
Session 7: Problem solving, part 1
Session 8: Problem solving, part 2
Session 9: Cannabis and mental health disorders
Session 10: Dealing with the social pressure to use

Ideal for use in a variety of settings, the program is designed for 90-minute sessions but can be modified for shorter time periods. Exercises are provided for the client to work on between sessions.  A facilitator manual, a DVD that includes a video overview of marijuana, and a CD-ROM with reproducible client worksheets and fact sheets are all included in this effective, affordable tool for helping clients overcome their dependence on cannabis.

The developers of the CANDIS Curriculumn were awarded the Research Awards of the German Addiction Research Foundation (2016) and of the German Association of Behavioural Therapy (2010).