Effectiveness of a self-guided web-based cannabis treatment program: randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Digital Health Interventions
• Substance Use Disorders
• Cannabis Use Research

Background:

• Self-help strategies are vital for overcoming barriers to traditional addiction treatment.
• The internet offers a scalable platform for delivering self-help interventions.
• Effectiveness of fully self-guided web-based cannabis treatment was previously untested.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a 6-module, self-guided web-based program called Reduce Your Use.
• To assess the program's impact on cannabis use, dependence, and abuse symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 225 individuals seeking to reduce or cease cannabis use.
• Participants were assigned to either the web-based intervention or a control group receiving educational information.
• Online questionnaires assessed outcomes at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months, with CACE and ITT analyses.

Main Results:

• At 6 weeks, the intervention group showed significantly reduced cannabis use days and quantity, and fewer abuse symptoms.
• At 3 months, the intervention group reported fewer and less severe cannabis dependence symptoms.
• Intention-to-treat and complier average causal effect analyses supported these findings.

Conclusions:

• Web-based interventions are a potentially effective method for treating uncomplicated cannabis use.
• These digital tools can help reduce the public health burden associated with cannabis use disorders.
• Further research can explore optimizing these interventions for broader accessibility.