A remote brief intervention plus social media messaging for cannabis use among emerging adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial in emergency department patients

Erin E Bonar; Jason E Goldstick; Chiu Yi Tan; Carrie Bourque; Patrick M Carter; Elizabeth R Duval; Jenna McAfee; Maureen A Walton

doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107829

A remote brief intervention plus social media messaging for cannabis use among emerging adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial in emergency department patients

Addict Behav. 2023 Dec:147:107829. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107829. Epub 2023 Aug 11.

Authors

Erin E Bonar¹, Jason E Goldstick², Chiu Yi Tan³, Carrie Bourque⁴, Patrick M Carter⁵, Elizabeth R Duval⁶, Jenna McAfee⁷, Maureen A Walton⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. Building 16, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Injury Prevention Center, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. Building 10, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: erinbona@med.umich.edu.
² Injury Prevention Center, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. Building 10, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. Building 10, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: jasoneg@med.umich.edu.
³ Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. Building 16, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: joeytan@med.umich.edu.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. Building 16, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: csmolens@med.umich.edu.
⁵ Injury Prevention Center, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. Building 10, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. Building 10, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Emergency Medicine, Hurley Medical Center, 1 Hurley Plaza, Flint, MI 48503, USA. Electronic address: cartpatr@med.umich.edu.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: eduval@med.umich.edu.
⁷ Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Burlington Building, 325 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. Electronic address: jennagoe@med.umich.edu.
⁸ Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. Building 16, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Injury Prevention Center, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. Building 10, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: waltonma@med.umich.edu.

PMID: 37598642
DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107829

Abstract

Introduction: Interventions addressing cannabis use among emerging adults (ages 18-25) are currently needed to prevent negative outcomes. Emergency Department (ED) visits provide an opportunity to initiate interventions. In this pilot study, we created a brief intervention (BI), extended with private social media messaging for emerging adult ED patients who use cannabis regularly. Study aims were to examine intervention feasibility, acceptability, and descriptive outcomes.

Methods: We recruited and randomized N = 58 emerging adults (M age 21.5 years, 65.5% female) who used cannabis from an ED in-person and remotely after their ED visit (given COVID-19 restrictions). Participants randomized to the intervention (N = 30) received a Motivational Interviewing-based BI and 4 weeks of health coaching via private social media; control participants received a resource brochure and entertaining social media messaging. Follow-ups occurred at 1-month and 3-months.

Results: Most intervention participants liked the BI (95.8%), found it helpful to discuss cannabis use in the BI (91.7%), and liked interacting with coaches on social media (86.3%). Social media content (e.g., video clips, images/still pictures/memes) were highly rated. Descriptively, the intervention group showed theory-consistent changes in importance of and intentions to change cannabis (increases vs. decrease/stability in control group), whereas findings for cannabis consumption/consequences were mixed.

Conclusions: This BI paired with social media messaging was acceptable in a sample of emerging adults from an ED who used cannabis regularly. Despite feasibility challenges due to COVID-19, this intervention warrants future investigation with a larger sample and longer follow-up period, with attention to the changing cannabis landscape when measuring outcomes.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
COVID-19*
Cannabis*
Crisis Intervention
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Hallucinogens*
Humans
Male
Pilot Projects
Social Media*
Young Adult

Substances

Hallucinogens

Grants and funding

R01 AG045712/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States