Albertella L, Gibson L, Rooke S, Norberg M, Copeland J. (2019). A smartphone app intervention for adult cannabis users wanting to quit or reduce their use: a pilot evaluation. Journal of Cannabis Research. 1(9). doi: 10.1186/s42238-019-0009-6
Researchers recruited 111 individuals who currently used cannabis and expressed interest in reduction or cessation through print and online advertisements to participate in a 1-month single group pilot evaluation of a smartphone application (app) intervention – Assess, Plan, Track, and Tips (APTT). Participants used APTT for a 4-week intervention period. Researchers assessed participants’ stage of change, days of cannabis use, self-confidence in cannabis-use resistance, severity of dependence, and cannabis-related problems at baseline, 4-weeks (post-intervention), and 1-month post-intervention (follow-up). Participants also reported their APTT use, perceived helpfulness of APTT, and satisfaction with APTT at post-intervention. At baseline, almost all participants assessed as Contemplation (63.3%) or Action (34%) stage of change, while 2.7% of participants classified as Precontemplation stage. For analytic purposes, Precontemplation participants (n = 3) matriculated into the Contemplation group. Stage of change did not correlate with participants’ cannabis-use goal (reduction vs. cessation). Almost half of Contemplators (48%) had used APTT over 20 times by post-intervention (vs. 32% Action participants), though Action participants reported feeling significantly more motivated by APTT than Contemplators. At post-intervention, Action participants used cannabis significantly fewer days than Contemplators, though these differences did not persist through follow-up. Action participants also had greater confidence in resisting cannabis and lower severity of dependence at all time points. Cessation-oriented (vs. reduction) participants exhibited greater cannabis-dependence at all time points. Results indicate that adults who use cannabis and who are in the Action stage of change may find APTT more motivational and beneficial, compared with individuals in the Contemplation stage.