Parent SMART Intervention for Adolescent Substance Use Disorders

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Sara J Becker, Ph.D.

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Brown University

Disqualifiers: Non-guardian, No smartphone, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 10

220 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Adolescents in residential substance use treatment have serious substance-related problems and poor outcomes following discharge: follow-up studies indicate that 60% of adolescents treated in residential treatment will relapse within the first 90 days. Parenting practices have been established as a critical predictor of adolescents' substance use outcomes and likelihood of relapse following treatments, but parents are notoriously difficult to engage in adolescent substance use treatment. Findings such as these provide strong justification for targeting parents of adolescents in residential substance use treatment via easily accessible interventions. This study tests the effectiveness of a technology-assisted parenting intervention called Parent SMART (Substance Misuse among Adolescents in Residential Treatment). The intervention combines an off-the-shelf computer program that teaches parenting skills called Parenting Wisely, four telehealth coaching sessions, and a networking forum that allows parents to connect with a clinical expert and with other parents. The investigators will compare adolescents who receive standard residential substance use treatment to adolescents who receive the same treatment plus whose parents receive Parent SMART. Investigators will test the comparative effectiveness of Parent SMART versus residential treatment as usual on parental monitoring and communication, adolescent substance use (i.e., days of substance use and substance-related problems), and substance-related high-risk behaviors (i.e., school-related problems, criminal involvement, externalizing behavior). The investigators will also test whether improvements in parenting partially mediate any observed changes in adolescent substance use and other high-risk behaviors.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications. It focuses on a parenting intervention for adolescents in substance use treatment.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Parent SMART treatment for adolescent substance use disorders?

Research shows that Parent SMART, a technology-assisted intervention, is effective in improving parental monitoring and communication, which are key factors in reducing adolescent substance use and related problems. In a pilot trial, adolescents whose parents used Parent SMART had fewer drinking days and school problems, especially in short-term residential settings, indicating its potential effectiveness. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Parent SMART intervention safe for humans?

The Parent SMART intervention has been found to be feasible and acceptable for parents and adolescents, with no safety concerns reported in the studies. It involves technology-assisted support for parents, which has been well-received and shows promise in improving parenting practices. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

How is the Parent SMART treatment different from other treatments for adolescent substance use disorders?

Parent SMART is unique because it is a technology-assisted intervention designed to improve parental monitoring and communication, making it more accessible and feasible for parents who face barriers to traditional therapy. It combines an online parenting program, coaching sessions, and a parent networking forum to support parents of adolescents in residential substance use treatment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Research Team

Sara J Becker, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Brown University and Northwestern University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for parents or legal guardians fluent in English or Spanish, with a smartphone and internet access. They must be willing to participate in interviews and have an adolescent aged 12-18 who used substances within the last 90 days and will live with them after residential treatment.

Inclusion Criteria

I am the parent or guardian of a teen aged 12-18.

I am in a residential treatment for my substance use issues.

be discharged to live with primary guardian

Exclusion Criteria

You have not used alcohol or drugs in the last three months.

will not be living with adolescent after adolescent's discharge from residential

I am not the legal guardian of a child aged 12-18.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Residential Treatment

Adolescents receive residential substance use treatment as usual

6-45 days

Parent SMART Intervention

Parents receive the Parent SMART intervention, including Parenting Wisely program, telehealth coaching sessions, and access to a networking forum

6 weeks

4 telehealth sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

24 weeks

Multi-method assessments at 6, 12, and 24 weeks post-discharge

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Parent SMART
• Treatment as Usual

Trial Overview The study tests Parent SMART, a tech-assisted parenting program aimed at reducing substance misuse among adolescents post-residential treatment. It includes computer-based training, telehealth coaching sessions, and a parent forum compared to standard treatment.

Participant Groups

Group I: Parent SMART Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Parent SMART is a technology-assisted parenting intervention combining an off-the-shelf computer program (Parenting Wisely), up to four telehealth coaching sessions, and access to an app-based networking forum.

Group II: Treatment as Usual Active Control 1 Intervention

The active comparator is defined as residential treatment services as usual.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Brown University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

480

Recruited

724,000+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+

Northwestern University

Collaborator

Trials

1,674

Recruited

989,000+

Findings from Research

The Parent SMART intervention, which includes technology-assisted resources and telehealth coaching, aims to improve parenting skills and reduce adolescent substance use in families of adolescents undergoing residential treatment, with a total of 220 parent-adolescent dyads participating in the study.

This fully-powered randomized controlled trial will assess the effectiveness of Parent SMART compared to traditional treatment, with follow-up assessments at 6, 12, and 24 weeks post-discharge to evaluate its impact on parenting practices and adolescent behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents in Residential Treatment): Protocol of a Randomized Effectiveness Trial of a Technology-Assisted Parenting Intervention. Becker, SJ., Helseth, SA., Kelly, LM., et al.[2022]

The Parent SMART intervention, which combines an online parenting program with coaching and networking, was found to be acceptable and feasible for engaging parents of adolescents in residential treatment for substance-related issues.

Preliminary results suggest that adolescents in short-term residential care whose parents participated in Parent SMART had fewer days of alcohol use and fewer school problems compared to those whose parents only received traditional treatment, indicating potential effectiveness of the intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents in Residential Treatment): Pilot randomized trial of a technology-assisted parenting intervention. Becker, SJ., Helseth, SA., Janssen, T., et al.[2022]

The Parent SMART intervention, which engages parents of adolescents in residential substance use treatment, showed preliminary effectiveness in improving parenting processes such as parental monitoring and communication during the 24 weeks post-discharge, based on a secondary analysis of a previous pilot study with 61 parent-adolescent dyads.

While participant-report questionnaires did not show significant changes, behavioral interaction tasks indicated that Parent SMART led to improvements in parenting scores, suggesting that this technology-assisted approach could be beneficial in supporting families during the transition period after treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent Smart: Effects of a Technology-Assisted Intervention for Parents of Adolescents in Residential Substance Use Treatment on Parental Monitoring and Communication. Becker, SJ., Helseth, SA., Janssen, T., et al.[2022]

The study is testing a technology-assisted intervention called Parenting Wisely+ (PW+) for parents of adolescents in residential substance use disorder treatment, aiming to improve post-discharge outcomes for these adolescents.

In a randomized pilot trial with 60 parents, the researchers will assess the feasibility and acceptability of PW+, as well as its impact on adolescent behaviors like substance use and truancy, potentially enhancing parental engagement and parenting practices that influence recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Technology-assisted intervention for parents of adolescents in residential substance use treatment: protocol of an open trial and pilot randomized trial. Becker, SJ., Hernandez, L., Spirito, A., et al.[2023]

The study focuses on creating a Consumer Guide to help parents choose effective treatment programs for adolescent substance abuse, addressing the lack of resources available for informed decision-making.

The guide is based on evaluating the quality of treatment programs by the number and frequency of evidence-based practices (EBPs) they implement, which are crucial for their effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing Adolescent Substance Abuse Programs with Updated Quality Indicators: The Development of a Consumer Guide for Adolescent Treatment. Cacciola, JS., Meyers, K., Bates, SE., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 153 adolescents with cannabis use disorders, clinic- and home-based contingency management (CM) significantly increased abstinence rates compared to individual motivational enhancement therapy/cognitive-behavioral therapy (MET/CBT).

The addition of a comprehensive parent training curriculum did not provide any additional benefits in reducing marijuana use or improving youth externalizing problems, suggesting that CM alone is effective without the need for extensive parent involvement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinic- and home-based contingency management plus parent training for adolescent cannabis use disorders. Stanger, C., Ryan, SR., Scherer, EA., et al.[2019]

References

1. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents in Residential Treatment): Protocol of a Randomized Effectiveness Trial of a Technology-Assisted Parenting Intervention. [2022]

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

Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents in Residential Treatment): Pilot randomized trial of a technology-assisted parenting intervention. [2022]

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

Parent Smart: Effects of a Technology-Assisted Intervention for Parents of Adolescents in Residential Substance Use Treatment on Parental Monitoring and Communication. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Technology-assisted intervention for parents of adolescents in residential substance use treatment: protocol of an open trial and pilot randomized trial. [2023]

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

Assessing Adolescent Substance Abuse Programs with Updated Quality Indicators: The Development of a Consumer Guide for Adolescent Treatment. [2023]

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

Clinic- and home-based contingency management plus parent training for adolescent cannabis use disorders. [2019]