Mobile Technology to Reduce Teen Substance Misuse

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

WisePath for Teens: WPT is a paired mobile phone app for use on both Android and iOS operating systems by youth experiencing SA and their parents/guardians.

Peer Support Services (PSS): PSS are provided by people with lived experience with histories of adolescent substance abuse and are now in recovery who are also certified as peer support specialists. A specialist will virtually (e.g., over the phone, screensharing) meet with families regularly to provide support and ensure that families are able to use iKinnect-SA and access the app's features.

Control: Website with icon on participant's phone with Android or iOS operating systems.

Study summary

The goal of this study is to test the newly expanded WisePath for Teens (WPT) for substance use app, a direct-to-consumer paired mobile phone app for iOS and Android platforms that supports parents/guardians in delivering evidence-based techniques to reduce youth substance abuse and co-occurring mental health problems. This project will expand WPT for use with a general population of teens with problematic substance use and their parents to reduce substance abuse, its harmful effects, opioid overdoses, and progression to substance use disorders, as well as other behavioral health problems that are exacerbated by substance abuse and/or interfere with substance abuse treatment.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change in Timeline Followback Method Assessment (TLFB) — Baseline (Time 1), 1-4 weeks (Time 2), 5-8 weeks (Time 3), and 9-12 weeks (Time 4)
  The TLFB assesses use of alcohol and 13 different drugs over the past 30 days. It involves asking clients to retrospectively estimate their drug, marijuana or cigarette use.
• Change in Global Assessment of Individual Needs-Q3 (GAIN) — Baseline (Time 1), 1-4 weeks (Time 2), 5-8 weeks (Time 3), and 9-12 weeks (Time 4)
  Scales from GAIN specifically identify and address substance use frequency (3 items), substance problems (5 items), crime/violence (5 items), and recovery environment risk (9 items) and are well-validated for adolescents.
• Change in Achenbach (Child/Adult) Behavior Checklist — Baseline (Time 1), 1-4 weeks (Time 2), 5-8 weeks (Time 3), and 9-12 weeks (Time 4)
  A widely used 123-item caregiver report form used to assess youth behavioral and emotional problems.
• Change in Family Environment Scale (FES) — Baseline (Time 1), 1-4 weeks (Time 2), 5-8 weeks (Time 3), and 9-12 weeks (Time 4)
  A widely-used measure of family conflict (12 items) and cohesion (15 items).
• Change in Parent-Adolescent Relationship Scale (PARS) — Baseline (Time 1), 1-4 weeks (Time 2), 5-8 weeks (Time 3), and 9-12 weeks (Time 4)
  A 15-item reliable measure of parent-teen connectedness, hostility, and involvement.
• Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) — Baseline (Time 1), 1-4 weeks (Time 2), 5-8 weeks (Time 3), and 9-12 weeks (Time 4)
  A psychometrically sound measure of positive parenting (6 items), monitoring/supervision (10 items), and discipline consistency (6 items).
• Change in Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) — Baseline (Time 1), 1-4 weeks (Time 2), 5-8 weeks (Time 3), and 9-12 weeks (Time 4)
  A reliable 10-item measure to assess parents' overall stress in parenting over the past two weeks.
• Change in Parent Locus of Control (PLC) — Baseline (Time 1), 1-4 weeks (Time 2), 5-8 weeks (Time 3), and 9-12 weeks (Time 4)
  A scale to measure parents' feelings of helplessness (10 items) and efficacy in dealing with parenting challenges (10 items).
• App Satisfaction Survey — 9-12 weeks (Time 4)
  An 8-item survey used in EBPI's previous research and focuses on the app's ease of use and helpfulness on a five-point rating scale. The survey also captures an overall satisfaction rating for the app used on a 100-point scale.

Trial sites (2)

Other trials for the same condition