Marijuana Education Program for Cannabis Use Disorder

Overseen By Jessica Taylor

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Maryland, Baltimore

Must be taking: Antipsychotics

Disqualifiers: Age, Schizophrenia, Cannabis use, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

40 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

We propose to pilot test an adapted version of the Teen Marijuana Check Up (TMCU) for persistent cannabis users with first episode psychosis (FEP) in Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC). The adapted version of the TMCU will include tailoring to risks of persistent cannabis use in FEP, providing education on lower risk cannabis use, and adding a session to address collaborative planning to maintain CSC engagement and antipsychotic adherence and to reduce harm associated with cannabis use.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions maintaining antipsychotic adherence, which suggests you may need to continue any prescribed antipsychotic medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Teen Marijuana Check-Up treatment for cannabis use disorder?

The Teen Marijuana Check-Up (TMCU) is a motivational enhancement therapy that has shown to be an effective option for adolescents, as it encourages voluntary participation and self-assessment of marijuana use. It has been implemented in schools and has been associated with positive outcomes in trials, making it a promising approach for addressing cannabis use disorder among teens. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Teen Marijuana Check-Up safe for participants?

The Teen Marijuana Check-Up is a counseling program designed to help adolescents voluntarily assess their marijuana use. It is implemented in schools and focuses on motivational enhancement therapy, which is generally considered safe as it involves non-pressured, confidential discussions rather than medical treatments. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

How is the Teen Marijuana Check-Up treatment different from other treatments for cannabis use disorder?

The Teen Marijuana Check-Up is unique because it is a brief, motivational enhancement therapy designed to be implemented in schools, encouraging voluntary participation from teens to self-assess their marijuana use without pressure, unlike other treatments that often involve mandatory participation. ^{1 2 6 8 9}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for young people aged 13-35 who are part of a Coordinated Specialty Care program and have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or related disorders. They must have had the illness for less than two years and currently use cannabis. Participants need to be able to understand and agree to join the study.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 13 and 35 years old.

Ability and willingness to provide informed consent to participate

I have been diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder.

Exclusion Criteria

Individuals who do not meet all inclusion criteria are excluded.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants undergo the adapted Teen Marijuana Checkup intervention, which includes two sessions focusing on motivational interviewing and personalized feedback.

2 weeks

2 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in cannabis use and psychosis symptoms immediately after the intervention.

2 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Teen Marijuana Check Up

Trial Overview The study is testing an adapted Teen Marijuana Check Up program tailored for those with first episode psychosis who persistently use cannabis. It aims to educate on safer cannabis use, maintain engagement in specialty care, adhere to antipsychotic treatment, and reduce harm from cannabis.

Participant Groups

Group I: Teen Marijuana Checkup - adapted Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Teen Marijuana Checkup will be adapted for youth and young adults with first episode psychosis. The Teen Marijuana Checkup includes two intervention sessions. In Session 1, the interventionist uses motivational interviewing skills to hear the adolescent's history and current concerns with marijuana. The personalized feedback report generated from the baseline assessment is reviewed. In Session 2, the interventionist elicits change talk and guides discussion on making changes to reduce or stop marijuana use.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Lead Sponsor

Trials

729

Recruited

540,000+

Findings from Research

The Teen Marijuana Check-Up (TMCU) is an effective intervention for reducing marijuana use among adolescents, and this trial will test a new 'as-needed' technical assistance strategy for its implementation in schools, compared to traditional methods.

The study aims to demonstrate that the 'as-needed' approach can maintain TMCU fidelity and effectiveness while being more cost-efficient, potentially allowing for broader application of this model in various health settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementing the teen marijuana check-up in schools-a study protocol. Hartzler, B., Lyon, AR., Walker, DD., et al.[2023]

The Teen Marijuana Check-Up is a brief, motivational intervention aimed at helping adolescent marijuana users assess their usage in a non-pressured, confidential setting, which encourages voluntary participation.

Initial outcomes from two trials suggest that this tailored approach may improve engagement and effectiveness compared to traditional counseling methods that rely on non-voluntary participation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Teen Marijuana Check-Up: An In-School Protocol for Eliciting Voluntary Self-Assessment of Marijuana Use. Swan, M., Schwartz, S., Berg, B., et al.[2021]

Adolescent cannabis use can lead to negative effects on development, cognition, and mental health, making it crucial to address this behavior through effective interventions.

Current strategies for managing cannabis use in adolescents, including screening and brief interventions, show only modest short-term effectiveness, and there are significant limitations in resources for referring adolescents to treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment in Pediatric Primary Care, School-Based Health Clinics, and Mental Health Clinics. Calihan, JB., Levy, S.[2023]

Adolescent cannabis use can lead to negative effects on development, cognition, and mental health, making it crucial to address this behavior through effective interventions.

Current strategies for managing cannabis use disorder in adolescents show only modest short-term effects, and the referral to treatment is often hindered by a lack of available resources.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment in Pediatric Primary Care, School-Based Health Clinics, and Mental Health Clinics. Calihan, JB., Levy, S.[2023]

The Marijuana Check-up (MCU) successfully attracted near-daily marijuana users who were experiencing negative consequences but were ambivalent about seeking treatment, with 587 participants expressing interest.

Participants in the MCU reported fewer problems related to marijuana use and less readiness to change compared to those in a concurrent treatment program, indicating that the MCU may serve as an effective intervention for users not ready to quit.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Marijuana Check-up: reaching users who are ambivalent about change. Stephens, RS., Roffman, RA., Fearer, SA., et al.[2022]

Marijuana use among eighth, 10th, and 12th grade students has significantly increased over the past five years, with some demographics experiencing a tripling of usage, potentially influenced by factors like the legalization debate and lack of communication about drug use.

The In-DEPTH program, which focuses on education and intervention strategies regarding adolescent marijuana use, has shown initial success in reducing usage and changing beliefs about marijuana in small multisite surveys.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Marijuana use prevention: the In-DEPTH model program. Lafferty, L.[2004]

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among adolescents in the United States, and its health risks are often underestimated by teens, parents, and healthcare providers.

The article emphasizes the need for increased awareness and education about the dangers of marijuana use, including its effects on adolescent behavior and the importance of professional counseling for those using the drug.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Marijuana and adolescents. Nistler, C., Hodgson, H., Nobrega, FT., et al.[2019]

Cognitive behavioral therapies, especially family-based and youth-focused models, are the most effective treatments for cannabis use disorder (CUD) in adolescents, promoting significant reductions in cannabis use.

Some medications may help alleviate cannabis cravings and withdrawal symptoms, but more research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of these treatments as cannabis use trends evolve.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of Adolescent Cannabis Use Disorders. Adams, ZW., Marriott, BR., Hulvershorn, LA., et al.[2023]

Cognitive behavioral therapies, especially family-based and youth-focused models, are the most effective treatments for cannabis use disorder (CUD) in adolescents, promoting significant reductions in cannabis use.

Some medications may help alleviate cannabis cravings and withdrawal symptoms, but more research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of these treatments as cannabis use trends evolve.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of Adolescent Cannabis Use Disorders. Adams, ZW., Marriott, BR., Hulvershorn, LA., et al.[2023]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementing the teen marijuana check-up in schools-a study protocol. [2023]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Teen Marijuana Check-Up: An In-School Protocol for Eliciting Voluntary Self-Assessment of Marijuana Use. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment in Pediatric Primary Care, School-Based Health Clinics, and Mental Health Clinics. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment in Pediatric Primary Care, School-Based Health Clinics, and Mental Health Clinics. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Marijuana Check-up: reaching users who are ambivalent about change. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Marijuana use prevention: the In-DEPTH model program. [2004]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Marijuana and adolescents. [2019]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of Adolescent Cannabis Use Disorders. [2023]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of Adolescent Cannabis Use Disorders. [2023]