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10/25/2023

Today’s Topic: Cannabis

Article Excerpt: Although lawmakers in New Hampshire won’t pass a bill to legalize recreational cannabis this year, they are grinding away at plans that might gain traction next year. They gave a study commission until Dec. 1 to recommend a path forward, with an implied mission to satisfy the demands of Governor Chris Sununu, who dropped his opposition to legalization in May. Sununu, a Republican, signaled support for a model that would give the state control over marijuana distribution, marketing, and more… Jacob T. Borodovsky, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at Dartmouth’s Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, said Sununu seems to have the right idea about striking a balance to protect public health. While the blanket criminalization of cannabis has been harmful and should end, a purely laissez-faire approach to drug policy would be harmful as well for individuals and society alike, Borodovsky said. “There’s no correct answer. There’s only trade-offs,” he said. “And the trade-offs that you’re willing to accept depend on the values of the community that is making these decisions.”

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/3m6uh95j

Article Source: Boston Globe New Hampshire Morning Report

Posted in: Regulation & Policy // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
07/31/2023

Preliminary Implementation Outcomes of a Free Online Toolkit to Support Exposure Therapy Implementation for Youth

Becker-Haimes EM, Wislocki K, Schriger SH, Kratz HE, Sanchez AL, Clapp D, Frank HE. Preliminary Implementation Outcomes of a Free Online Toolkit to Support Exposure Therapy Implementation for Youth. Child Youth Care Forum (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-023-09732-1

Exposure therapy is a cognitive-behavioral treatment tool for youth anxiety but is highly underutilized in routine clinical care. This study assessed usage and clinician perspectives of an online toolkit that supports the use of exposure therapy with anxious youth, called the Resource for Exposure for Anxiety Disordered Youth (READY). READY is hosted on a freely available website and has been disseminated to clinicians. Researchers extracted web analytics from the READY platform and conducted brief, anonymous electronic surveys of site users to assess READY adoption, utility, and the association with exposure therapy use. In its first three years, READY had 13,543 page views across 1731 unique users. READY clinician users (N=49, mean age=34 years, 82.9% female, 71% White) completed the survey. Survey data suggested variability in usage and perceived utility across toolkit components. READY was perceived positively overall by users and was most commonly used to prepare for exposure therapy sessions by reviewing tips or generating exposure ideas. Open-ended responses about perceived challenges in exposure delivery with youth found common barriers to be engagement by patients, difficulties with the family system, and difficulties with generating ideas for exposure practices. Although the study engaged only a small number of READY users (14%) to complete the survey, findings suggest the READY toolkit, a free online implementation resource, could be a promising tool to support clinicians delivering exposure therapy and may augment traditional training and consultation.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ;
06/20/2023

A Digital Single-Session Intervention Platform for Youth Mental Health: Cultural Adaptation, Evaluation, and Dissemination

Shroff A, Roulston C, Fassler J, Dierschke N, Todd J, Ríos-Herrera Á, Plastino K, Schleider J. A Digital Single-Session Intervention Platform for Youth Mental Health: Cultural Adaptation, Evaluation, and Dissemination. JMIR Ment Health 2023;10:e43062. DOI: 10.2196/43062

An academic-community partnership was created to culturally adapt, disseminate, and gauge the acceptability and utility of an evidence-based digital mental health platform, Project Youth Empowerment and Support (YES), among English and Spanish speaking youth in south Texas. The three digital self-guided single-session interventions (SSIs) in Project YES were culturally adapted and revised in collaboration with youth stakeholders and translated to Spanish. pre-post exploratory study investigated acceptability and efficacy of Project YES on hopelessness, agency, perceived control, and self-hate. Participants aged 11 to 17 years and residing in San Antonio, Texas and the surrounding areas were recruited via social media ads, referrals, schools, and community centers. A total of 1801 youths began and 894 (49.6%) selected and completed one 30-minute SSI within the Project YES website. Data was collected via self-reported surveys before participants started a SSI and following the completion of the SSI. Participants rated the Project YES as enjoyable, easy to understand, easy to use, helpful, and would recommend to others (mean at least 3.5 out of 5.0) for both language versions Youth in Project YES (English version) reported significant improvements in hopelessness (Cohen d=0.33, p<.001), self-hate (Cohen d=0.27, p<.001) and agency (Cohen d=0.25, p<.001) post-intervention, relative to pre-intervention. Youth in Project YES (Spanish version) reported significant improvements in self-hate (Cohen d=0.37, p=.05) from before to after the intervention. Overall, the culturally adapted Project YES demonstrated to be an acceptable, accessible, and effective mental health support for English and Spanish speaking youth. The San Antonio community partnerships fostered broad recruitment and retention rates.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ;
06/12/2023

Findings From the Step Up, Test Up Study of an Electronic Screening and Brief Intervention for Alcohol Misuse in Adolescents and Young Adults Presenting for HIV Testing: Randomized Controlled Efficacy Trial

Karnik N, Kuhns L, Hotton A, Del Vecchio N, McNulty M, Schneider J, Donenberg G, Keglovitz Baker K, Diskin R, Muldoon A, Rivera J, Summersett Williams F, Garofalo R. Findings From the Step Up, Test Up Study of an Electronic Screening and Brief Intervention for Alcohol Misuse in Adolescents and Young Adults Presenting for HIV Testing: Randomized Controlled Efficacy Trial. JMIR Ment Health 2023;10:e43653. DOI: 10.2196/43653

This study tested the efficacy of a fully automated electronic screening and brief intervention, Step Up, Test Up, to reduce alcohol misuse among adolescents and young adults in community-based HIV testing environments in Chicago. Effects on sexual risk and uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention were also examined. Three hundred twenty-nine participants aged 16-25 years who identified as a man or transgender woman who has sex with men and reported moderate to high alcohol use were randomly assigned to a brief single-visit intervention or attention control condition (modules of similar length on promotion of diet and nutrition). The Step Up, Test Up intervention used a motivational interviewing approach to deliver lessons on 11 topics focused on alcohol use. Data were collected at 1, 3, 6, and 12-months post intervention. There were no significant group differences in alcohol use outcomes over time. There was a significant but small reduction in condomless anal sex under the influence of alcohol and drugs at 12 months compared to 3 months among participants in the intervention group relative to the control group (incidence rate ratio=0.15, 95% CI 0.05-0.44). There were no significant group differences in sexual risk and PrEP engagement. The relative lack of effect of the intervention on alcohol misuse and associated risks may reflect a need for cultural tailoring and more dynamic and engaging components in the intervention.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ;
06/01/2023

How Does Marijuana Affect the Brain? Psychological Researchers Examine Impact on Different Age Groups Over Time

Article Excerpt: Although scientists are working to answer important questions about consuming cannabis, one of the gaping holes in the field is a reliable method of quantifying how many milligrams of THC are in the multitude of products available, said Dartmouth College’s Alan Budney, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and biomedical science who specializes in cannabis research… Budney is now preparing to launch a survey of 15,000 users who will report not only the detailed information about their cannabis consumption but also how the products are affecting them in terms of depression, anxiety, cannabis use disorder symptoms, and quality of life.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/42zuuxms

Article Source: American Psychological Association

Posted in: Methodologies & Analytics, Regulation & Policy // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
04/25/2023

Mixed methods evaluation of vaping and tobacco product use prevention interventions among youth in the Florida 4-H program

Bteddini DS, LeLaurin JH, Chi X, Hall JM, Theis RP, Gurka MJ, Lee J-H, Mobley EM, Khalil GE, Polansky CJ, Kellner AM, Fahnlander AM, Kelder SH, Fiellin LE, Gutter MS, Shenkman EA, & Salloum RG. (2023). Mixed methods evaluation of vaping and tobacco product use prevention interventions among youth in the Florida 4-H program. Addictive Behaviors, 141, 107637–107637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107637

This pilot study tested the delivery feasibility and outcomes of two programs, CATCH My Breath and smokeSCREEN, among youth in rural settings in Florida. Eighty-two youth participants (aged 11-17) were recruited from rural youth clubs in Florida and randomly assigned to one of three arms: CATCH My Breath, smokeSCREEN, and control (receiving educational flyers). CATCH My Breath and smokescreen are prevention interventions that focus on promoting healthy behaviors and increasing awareness of vaping and tobacco use. CATCH My Breath consists of four interactive modules on vaping prevention delivered over Zoom group sessions weekly for four w eeks. smokeSCREEN is a smoking and vaping prevention video game and was delivered individually to adolescents. Participants from both intervention arms were also invited join group Zoom discussions weekly for four weeks to discuss the game. Out of the participants in the intervention arms, 83.7% attended the majority of group Zoom sessions. After the intervention, CATCH My Breath participants showed significant improvement in tobacco knowledge (post-pre=3.3, p<.01) and risk perceptions for other flavored tobacco products (post-pre=1.6, p<.05). Post intervention, smokeSCREEN participants demonstrated significantly improved tobacco knowledge (post-pre=5.0, p<.01), e-cigarettes knowledge (post-pre=2.8, p<.01) and risk perception towards e-cigarettes (post-pre=2.8, p<.05). In the control group, only risk perception to cigarettes significantly changed (post-pre=1.1, p<.01). Findings show positive feasibility and immediate positive impact of these digital intervention games augmented by virtual group sessions. Future work is needed to differentiate the impact of digital games from that of virtual group discussions. Investigations with larger samples and a longer follow-up period to evaluate longer-term impact are needed.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
04/18/2023

Translating Violence Prevention Programs from Research to Practice: SafERteens Implementation in an Urban Emergency Department

Carter PM, Cunningham RM, Eisman AB, Resnicow K, Roche JS, Cole JT, Goldstick J, Kilbourne AM, & Walton MA. (2022). Translating Violence Prevention Programs from Research to Practice: SafERteens Implementation in an Urban Emergency Department. The Journal of Emergency Medicine, 62(1), 109–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2021.09.003

This study examined the translation of SafERteens, an evidence-based violence prevention program, into clinical care. Implementation of the program was piloted in an emergency department (ED) hospital setting with youth (14-18 years old) who screened positive for recent aggression during an ED visit. Youth participants were randomized to SafERteens (delivered remotely by study therapists or in-person by hospital staff) or enhanced usual care. The SafERteens intervention is a 30–45-minute brief behavioral intervention that integrates motivational interviewing for cognitive behavioral strategies. Participants also received an optional 2-month tailored text messaging program on self-efficacy, reminders on their goals, and tools to avoid violence. Data was collected from hospital staff on implementation facilitators and barriers using the RE-AIM framework. SafERteens completion rate was found to be 77.6% for remote delivery and 49.1% for in-person delivery. The SafERteens and tailored text messaging demonstrated high acceptability among youth; 84.9% of participants found it helpful. After the intervention, participants reported increased self-efficacy to avoid fighting and decreased pro-violence attitudes compared to baseline. Hospital staff reported a number of barriers to implementation such as limited staff availability and lack of reimbursement for staff time to conduct intervention delivery. Remote delivery of SafERteens can be a promising strategy to overcome resource limitations. Results demonstrate that policymakers should continue to expand reimbursement mechanisms in hospitals for violence screening and interventions.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ;
04/03/2023

I-CARE: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Appropriateness of a Digital Health Intervention for Youth Experiencing Mental Health Boarding

Leyenaar JK, Arakelyan M, Acquilano SC, Gilbert TL, Craig JT, Lee CN, Kodak SG, Ignatova E, Mudge LA, House SA, Brady RE. I-CARE: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Appropriateness of a Digital Health Intervention for Youth Experiencing Mental Health Boarding. J Adolesc Health. 2023 Mar 2:S1054-139X(23)00062-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.01.015. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36870901.

A modular digital intervention was developed to facilitate delivery of evidence-based psychosocial skills by non-mental health clinicians for youth with expressed suicidality. The paper describes pilot mixed method findings on the intervention’s effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness. The intervention, I-CARE, consisted of seven modules grounded in cognitive behavior therapy and were delivered via a table computer with videos and practice activities. Licensed nursing assistants provided one-on-one supervision and facilitated the intervention. I-CARE was implemented in a pediatric hospital with 24 patients aged 12-17 years hospitalized due to suicidal ideation or attempt. Clinical outcomes were assessed by self-reported surveys at hospital admission and 24 hours before hospital discharge. Emotional distress significantly decreased after participation (6.3 points on 63-point scale). There were no significant changes in engagement readiness and illness severity. Majority of youth, caregivers and clinicians rated I-CARE as feasible (98%, N=39), acceptable (90%, N=36), and appropriate (78%, N=31). Overall, I-CARE was feasible to implement and acceptable to end-users and demonstrated preliminary positive impact on emotional distress for suicidal young people in psychiatric hospitalization.

 

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ;
03/28/2023

The Digital Wellness Lab Aims to Mediate Between TikTok and Parents

Article Excerpt: As some states try to regulate children’s social media use and TikTok emerges as a geopolitical chew toy, a new clearinghouse has emerged for mediating between tech companies and those concerned about their products’ impact on kids: the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/bdahr353

Article Source: Axios

Posted in: Methodologies & Analytics, Regulation & Policy // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ;