TECH App Marijuana Use Intervention for Court-Involved Adolescents

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Adolescent; Cannabis Use
• Interventions: Behavioral: Treatment as usual; Behavioral: Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH) app

• Registration Number: NCT05979272
• Lead Sponsor: Northwestern University

Brief Summary

The study is about helping teens who are involved in the court system to cut down or quit using marijuana. Teens may be asked to test out an experimental smartphone app, called TECH, that will be used only by teens in this study. This app is a private online community where teens can work towards changing their substance use and other behavior with the help of other anonymous teens. We will use this information to learn how the app may help teens make a change and to improve the TECH app.

Detailed Description

This multiphase study will establish the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a novel smartphone app that leverages both intrapersonal and interpersonal mechanisms to promote cannabis-related behavior change among CINI youth ages 14-17. The app, Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH), will be evaluated as an adjunct to treatment as usual (TAU) at the local family court. Phase 1 (completed Fall 2021) included a series of semi-structured interviews with key individuals, to inform how clinical goals (e.g., reduced cannabis use) will map onto usage goals (e.g., goal-setting, peer networking), features (e.g., expert-moderated forum, notifications) and workflow. Then, Phase 2 (completed Fall 2022) beta tested and iteratively refined the TECH prototype with 10 court-involved, non-incarcerated (CINI) youth. In the current phase of the work, Phase 3, we will conduct a pilot randomized control trial (RCT) with 60 CINI youth to test the TECH app (TAU+TECH) relative to TAU-only.

Specific aims are:

Aim 1. Apply the Behavior Intervention Theory model to develop a user-driven tool (i.e., TECH) that capitalizes on how, why, and when CINI youth would most prefer to engage with a smartphone app to reduce cannabis use.

\~Aim 1 was achieved in Phase 1 qualitative interviews with CINI youth, their parents, and behavioral health app developers.

Aim 2. Examine the feasibility and acceptability of the TECH user-driven smartphone app.

\~Hypothesis 1 is that TECH will be feasible and acceptable to CINI youth, as measured via enrollment and withdrawal rates, app usage data, and exit interviews. Aim 2 will be achieved through Phase 2 beta testing (n = 10) and Phase 3's pilot RCT (n = 60) with CINI youth.

Aim 3. Test the preliminary efficacy of the TECH smartphone app as an adjunct to TAU (TECH + TAU vs. TAU-only) on cannabis use (primary outcome).

\~Hypothesis 2 is that, relative to CINI youth who receive TAU-only, the TAU+TECH group will demonstrate greater reductions in cannabis use. Aim 3 will be achieved via Phase 3's pilot RCT (n = 60 CINI youth).

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-06-21
• Study First Submitted: 2023-07-31
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-07-31
• Study First Posted: 2023-08-07
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-24
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-29
• Primary Completion: 2026-01
• Study Completion: 2026-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 14 years to 18 years
• Able to speak and read English
• Have access to a smartphone
• Self-report past-year cannabis use
• If a minor, able to provide parental consent and child assent

Exclusion Criteria for all participants is limited to conditions that would preclude active participation in an intervention study of a mobile app (e.g., psychosis, cognitive impairment, visual impairment).

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
TAU + TECH	Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH) app	Treatment as usual, plus TECH app
TAU-only	Treatment as usual	Treatment as usual
TAU + TECH	Treatment as usual	Treatment as usual, plus TECH app

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in days of cannabis use (Preliminary Efficacy)	Last 90 days at baseline, and 1-, 3-, and 6-months	Self-report of total days of cannabis use, via Timeline Followback Interview

Trial Locations

Locations (4)

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States

Rhode Island Hospital; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States

Rhode Island Family Court; 🇺🇸 Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Brown University; 🇺🇸 Providence, Rhode Island, United States