Funding Source
National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Australian Federal Government, Alcohol & Drug Branch
Project Period
1/7/18 - 6/30/21
Principal Investigator
Leanne Hides, PhD (The University of Queensland)
Other Project Staff
Baker AL, Norberg M, Copeland J, Quinn C, Walter Z, Leung J, Stoyanov S, Kavanagh D
Project Summary
Young Australians have some of the highest rates of past-month cannabis use in the world. Cannabis use has a robust dose-response association with psychotic experiences (PEs) and disorders. PEs are subthreshold positive psychotic symptoms, which increase the risk of substance use, depressive or anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders. Access to effective web-based early interventions targeting both cannabis use and PEs could reduce such risk in young people. The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the Keep it Real web-based program compared to an information-only control website among young cannabis users with PEs.
Public Health Relevance
If effective, the accessibility and scalability of Keep it Real could help reduce growing public health concerns about the significant social, economic, and health impacts of cannabis use.