Smart Talk Program for Cannabis Use

Age: < 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Stanford University
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests an educational program designed to help middle and high school students understand the risks of cannabis use and reduce their intentions and actual use. The program, Smart Talk Cannabis Awareness and Prevention, is delivered in schools through a series of classes. Schools will either start the program immediately or wait a year, allowing researchers to compare the results. Students currently enrolled in health education classes at participating schools are well-suited for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers students the opportunity to contribute to important research on cannabis awareness and prevention in educational settings.

What prior data suggests that the Smart Talk Program is safe for students?

Research has shown that the Smart Talk Cannabis Awareness and Prevention program educates students about cannabis. It aims to increase their understanding and reduce their desire to use cannabis. The program includes a series of engaging and informative lessons and videos.

As an educational program, it poses no medical or drug-related side effects. It is a curriculum, not a treatment or medication, so typical clinical trial safety concerns, such as negative drug reactions, do not apply. Instead, it provides information safely and structuredly to help students make informed choices about cannabis.

Overall, no evidence suggests safety issues with this educational program. It serves as a tool to help students learn and make better decisions regarding cannabis use.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Smart Talk Cannabis Awareness and Prevention program because it takes a proactive approach in educating students about cannabis use before it becomes a problem. Unlike traditional methods that often focus on intervention after use has started, this program emphasizes prevention through a structured, interactive curriculum. By delivering the program in a classroom setting, it fosters a supportive environment where students can learn and discuss openly. This proactive and educational approach aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions, potentially reducing the likelihood of cannabis use.

What evidence suggests that the Smart Talk program is effective for reducing cannabis use among youth?

Research has shown that the Stanford Cannabis Awareness and Prevention program, which participants in this trial may receive, can help reduce cannabis use among young people. Studies indicate that interactive school programs like Smart Talk effectively lower students' intentions to use cannabis. A review of multiple studies found that these programs significantly decrease cannabis use in middle and high school students. The Smart Talk curriculum includes engaging activities and quizzes that educate students about the risks of cannabis use. By increasing knowledge and changing perceptions, these programs aim to prevent cannabis use before it starts.12567

Who Is on the Research Team?

BH

Bonnie Halpern Felsher, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Stanford University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for middle and high school students. It's designed to see if an online educational program can change their views on cannabis use and actually prevent them from using it.

Inclusion Criteria

Middle school and high school students receiving health education at schools participating in the study

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Schools receive the Smart Talk curriculum as a 5-session course administered in a classroom setting

5 sessions

Delay in Treatment

Schools randomized to delay-in-treatment receive standard care for one year before crossover

1 year

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in cannabis use and intention to use cannabis

182 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Smart Talk Cannabis Awareness and Prevention

Trial Overview

The 'Smart Talk' program, a free online resource by the Stanford REACH Lab, is being tested to evaluate its effectiveness in increasing awareness about cannabis and reducing its use among youth.

How Is the Trial Designed?

2

Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Smart Talk Cannabis Awareness and PreventionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Delay in Treatment GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Stanford University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
2,527
Recruited
17,430,000+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials
2,658
Recruited
3,409,000+

Citations

Smart Talk: Cannabis Awareness and Prevention ...

The Stanford REACH Lab's SMART TALK: Cannabis Awareness and Prevention Toolkit is a free, online educational resource to be used by educators to ...

Smart Talk Curriculum | Cannabis Awareness and Prevention ...

The Smart Talk: Cannabis Prevention & Awareness Curriculum includes 5 lessons, each providing activities, online quiz games, and worksheets in addition to ...

A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Interactive Middle ...

This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of interactive middle school-based drug prevention programs on adolescent cannabis use in North America.

Cannabis Awareness and Prevention Toolkit for Reducing ...

Research has shown that the Stanford Cannabis Awareness and Prevention program can reduce cannabis use among young people. In this trial, some participants ...

List of Cannabis Model Programs for School District or Charter ...

This procedure resulted in the following relative ranking of the model programs: 1. Smart Talk: Cannabis Prevention and Awareness Curriculum;. 2 ...

Safety First | Halpern-Felsher REACH Lab | Stanford Medicine

Safety First is made up of 13 lessons on alcohol, opioids/fentanyl, psychedelics, and other drugs. The purpose of all of our curriculums is to encourage youth ...

Marijuana Toolkit

BRUSH UP ON YOUR CANNABIS KNOWLEDGE WITH THIS SERIES OF SHORT LESSONS ON. CANNABIS AND PREVENTION! EACH LESSON CONSISTS OF A 5-10 MINUTE VIDEO.