A proof-of-concept study examining a health communication intervention to reduce cannabis misuse among college
Jessica Fitts Willoughby1, Stacey J T Hust1, Leticia Couto1
1The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
Objective:
A growing number of U.S. states have legalized cannabis for people 21 and older, but cannabis use and misuse can negatively impact college students' health and academic achievements. We created a technology-delivered intervention designed to reduce cannabis misuse among college students.
Participants:
College students at one university in Washington state.
Methods:
We tested the intervention in a pretest, post-test lab experiment (N = 64). A person with experience in the cannabis marketing industry voiced the intervention, describing relevant laws, product knowledge, packaging literacy, serving sizes and potency, strategies for reducing misuse and possible harms of using.
Results:
Participants viewed the intervention as highly credible and useful. The intervention increased participants' confidence in cannabis product knowledge, confidence in responsible use, and perceptions of health risks.
Conclusions:
Such an intervention can positively impact participants' confidence in navigating the legal cannabis landscape while increasing risk perceptions. The use of a credible source with industry experience is beneficial for reaching college students with such information.
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