Substance-Specific Risk Factors among Young Adults: Potential Prevention Targets across Cannabis-Permissive Environments

Results of a randomized controlled trial of the cannabis eCHECKUP TO GO personalized normative feedback intervention on reducing cannabis use, cannabis consequences, and descriptive norms

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of cannabis use disorder and its negative consequences among young adults has highlighted the need for prevention and early intervention programs. However, low treatment prevalence persists due to factors such as lack of perceived need, concerns about stigma, and limited access to treatment. To address these barriers, web-based cannabis interventions have been developed, but their efficacy remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the cross-site efficacy of the Cannabis eCHECKUP TO GO program, a web-based Personalized Normative Feedback and Protective Behavioral Strategies intervention for reducing cannabis use frequency and consequences in college students with willingness to change.

METHODS

Participants were 781 students from three universities (two in Canada, one in the US) who reported using cannabis in the past month and expressed interest in reducing or engaging in safer cannabis use. The study randomly assigned them to either an experimental group that received personalized normative feedback or a control group that received information on healthy stress management. The study collected follow-up data 4 weeks after the initial intervention and measured participants' frequency of cannabis use, number of cannabis consequences, descriptive and injunctive norms at both time points.

RESULTS

The results showed no significant reductions in cannabis use or negative consequences of use. However, students who received personalized normative feedback experienced a significant reduction in descriptive norms related to cannabis use, to be more in line with actual use.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that more targeted interventions may be necessary for university students who are already using and seeking help to reduce their use.

Problematic Substance Use among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Young Adults during COVID-19

Sexual minority young adults (SMYAs), compared to heterosexual young adults (HYAs), are a uniquely high-risk population for problematic substance use, a disparity perhaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study tested whether SMYAs had more problematic substance use than HYAs during the pandemic due to isolation and loneliness as well as lower family closeness. Participants (N = 141) aged 23-29 completed self-report surveys in 2014-2015 as college students and in the summer of 2021 as young adults (59% White, 26% Black/African American, 9% Asian/Middle Eastern, 6% Hispanic/Latino, and <1% American Indian/Alaska Native). Results of multivariate regression and multiple group path analyses did not support hypothesized effects-SMYAs did not have greater increases in problematic substance use compared to HYAs, isolation and loneliness were not significant mediators, and family closeness was not a significant moderator. However, SMYAs experienced a lack of social safety-increased loneliness and decreased family closeness-compared to HYAs. Further research is needed to investigate both the impact and underlying processes of this decreased social safety on SMYA well-being beyond the pandemic to better inform tailored supports and interventions.