Provider Intentions to Implement Cannabis Use Intervention in First Episode Psychosis Treatment.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Addiction Medicine
• Mental Health Services

Background:

• Young adults with first episode psychosis (FEP) exhibit high rates of cannabis use.
• Societal attitudes towards cannabis are becoming more permissive, reducing perceived risk.
• Substance use interventions are not consistently integrated into coordinated specialty care (CSC) for FEP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors influencing CSC providers' intentions to implement motivational enhancement therapy (MET) for cannabis reduction among FEP patients.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to adopting MET within CSC settings.

Main Methods:

• Two focus groups were conducted with 14 CSC providers.
• Data collection was guided by the theory of planned behavior.
• Content and thematic analyses were performed to identify key themes.

Main Results:

• Providers generally expressed intentions to implement MET.
• Key barriers included concerns about patient willingness to discuss cannabis use, perceived emphasis on abstinence-only, and practical issues with assessment tools.
• Provider intentions were influenced by perceived client readiness and program support.

Conclusions:

• Training CSC providers on MET assessment protocols and harm-reduction strategies can address implementation barriers.
• Addressing provider concerns regarding client engagement and intervention mechanics is crucial for successful MET adoption.
• Integrating harm-reduction approaches into FEP care can improve cannabis use outcomes.