Best practice portal main page
Digital interventions to reduce cannabis use among adolescents and young adults
Summary of the evidence
Online interventions, web or mobile-based, for young adults (defined as adolescents and young adults from 15 to 30 years), including peer-to-peer contact, patient-to-expert communication, or interactive psychoeducation/therapy to reduce cannabis use was found in a systematic review with meta-analysis (Beneria et al., 2021, 17 RCTs, N= 3 525) to have no effect in:
- reducing cannabis consumption (Hedge's g = -0.061, 95% CI [-0.363] to [-0.242], p = .695)
However, some of the more recent studies out of the 17 used in the analysis, reported positive results. These trials used structured interventions, daily feedback, young adults centred designs, peer support, and specifically targeting cannabis use (as opposed to generic interventions) and showed promise as potentially effective approaches to address cannabis use in this population.
Details
Note: this evidence summary is only valid for the outcomes, target groups, settings and substances/patterns of use described below.
