Cannabis UseTECHNCT05979272
TECH App Marijuana Use Intervention for Court-Involved Adolescents
A study testing Treatment as usual and Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH) app in people with Cannabis Use and Adolescent, run by Northwestern University at 4 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The study is about helping teens who are involved in the court system to cut down or quit using marijuana. Teens may be asked to test out an experimental smartphone app, called TECH, that will be used only by teens in this study. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 14 to 18 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cannabis Use, Adolescent
- What is being tested?
- Treatment as usual and Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH) app
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 4 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 21 Jun 2023to 15 Jan 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 14 to 18 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 14 years to 18 years
- Able to speak and read English
- Have access to a smartphone
- Self-report past-year cannabis use
- If a minor, able to provide parental consent and child assent
- Exclusion Criteria for all participants is limited to conditions that would preclude active participation in an intervention study of a mobile app (e.g., psychosis, cognitive impairment, visual impairment).
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
4 sites in 1 country.
United States4 sites
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, 60614
Rhode Island Hospital
Chicago, Illinois, 60614
Rhode Island Family Court
Providence, Rhode Island, 02903
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island, 02912
About this study
Official title: Development and Preliminary Testing of an Adjunct Smartphone App to Reduce Marijuana Use in Court-Involved, Non-Incarcerated Adolescents
The study is about helping teens who are involved in the court system to cut down or quit using marijuana. Teens may be asked to test out an experimental smartphone app, called TECH, that will be used only by teens in this study. This app is a private online community where teens can work towards changing their substance use and other behavior with the help of other anonymous teens. We will use this information to learn how the app may help teens make a change and to improve the TECH app.
Read the detailed description
This multiphase study will establish the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a novel smartphone app that leverages both intrapersonal and interpersonal mechanisms to promote cannabis-related behavior change among CINI youth ages 14-17. The app, Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH), will be evaluated as an adjunct to treatment as usual (TAU) at the local family court. Phase 1 (completed Fall 2021) included a series of semi-structured interviews with key individuals, to inform how clinical goals (e.g., reduced cannabis use) will map onto usage goals (e.g., goal-setting, peer networking), features (e.g., expert-moderated forum, notifications) and workflow. Then, Phase 2 (completed Fall 2022) beta tested and iteratively refined the TECH prototype with 10 court-involved, non-incarcerated (CINI) youth. In the current phase of the work, Phase 3, we will conduct a pilot randomized control trial (RCT) with 60 CINI youth to test the TECH app (TAU+TECH) relative to TAU-only.
Specific aims are:
Aim 1. Apply the Behavior Intervention Theory model to develop a user-driven tool (i.e., TECH) that capitalizes on how, why, and when CINI youth would most prefer to engage with a smartphone app to reduce cannabis use.
~Aim 1 was achieved in Phase 1 qualitative interviews with CINI youth, their parents, and behavioral health app developers.
Aim 2. Examine the feasibility and acceptability of the TECH user-driven smartphone app.
~Hypothesis 1 is that TECH will be feasible and acceptable to CINI youth, as measured via enrollment and withdrawal rates, app usage data, and exit interviews. Aim 2 will be achieved through Phase 2 beta testing (n = 10) and Phase 3's pilot RCT (n = 60) with CINI youth.
Aim 3. Test the preliminary efficacy of the TECH smartphone app as an adjunct to TAU (TECH + TAU vs. TAU-only) on cannabis use (primary outcome).
~Hypothesis 2 is that, relative to CINI youth who receive TAU-only, the TAU+TECH group will demonstrate greater reductions in cannabis use. Aim 3 will be achieved via Phase 3's pilot RCT (n = 60 CINI youth).
- Conditions
- Cannabis Use, Adolescent
- Being tested
- Treatment as usual, Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH) app
- Keywords
- Court-involved, cannabis use, adolescent, marijuana use, digital health, mHealth, smartphone, juvenile justice, juvenile legal
- Medical subject headings
- Marijuana Use
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Treatment as usualBehavioural
Treatment as Usual at the local family court, which includes a brief, computerized motivation enhancement intervention. All CINI youth will receive TAU, regardless of condition.
Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH) appBehavioural
An adjunct smartphone app (i.e., TECH) developed to support TAU. All participants randomly assigned to TAU+TECH will receive the TECH app.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| TAU-only | Active comparator | Treatment as usual Receives: Behavioral: Treatment as usual |
| TAU + TECH | Experimental | Treatment as usual, plus TECH app Receives: Behavioral: Treatment as usual; Behavioral: Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH) app |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in days of cannabis use (Preliminary Efficacy)
Self-report of total days of cannabis use, via Timeline Followback Interview
Measured: Last 90 days at baseline, and 1-, 3-, and 6-months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Aug 2023
- Study start21 Jun 2023
- Primary completion15 Jan 2026
- Study completion15 Jan 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cannabis UseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Northwestern UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Sarah Helseth, Northwestern University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05979272
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SP0078326
- Other IDs
- K23DA048062
- Acronym
- TECH
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 31 Jul 2023
- Last updated
- 30 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Helseth SA, Piper KN, Dunne CJ, Kemp K, Barnett NP, Clark MA, Spirito A, Becker SJ. User-centered Design of an Adjunct Smartphone App to Reduce Cannabis Use among Youth Diverted from the Juvenile Legal System. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2025 Dec;53(12):1797-1811. doi: 10.1007/s10802-025-01370-6. Epub 2025 Sep 9.
PubMed 40924271Helseth SA, Guigayoma J, Price D, Spirito A, Clark MA, Barnett NP, Becker SJ. Developing a Smartphone-Based Adjunct Intervention to Reduce Cannabis Use Among Juvenile Justice-Involved Adolescents: Protocol for a Multiphase Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 Mar 11;11(3):e35402. doi: 10.2196/35402.
PubMed 35275086
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Development and Preliminary Testing of an Adjunct Smartphone App to Reduce Marijuana Use in Court-Involved, Non-Incarcerated Adolescents
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05979272
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TECH / SP0078326
- Conditions
- Cannabis Use, Adolescent
- Keywords
- Court-involved, cannabis use, adolescent, marijuana use, digital health, mHealth, smartphone, juvenile justice
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Study start
- 21 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Jan 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The study is about helping teens who are involved in the court system to cut down or quit using marijuana. Teens may be asked to test out an experimental smartphone app, called TECH, that will be used only by teens in this study. This app is a private online community where teens can work towards changing their substance use and other behavior with the help of other anonymous teens. We will use this information to learn how the app may help teens make a change and to improve the TECH app.
Detailed description
This multiphase study will establish the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a novel smartphone app that leverages both intrapersonal and interpersonal mechanisms to promote cannabis-related behavior change among CINI youth ages 14-17. The app, Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH), will be evaluated as an adjunct to treatment as usual (TAU) at the local family court. Phase 1 (completed Fall 2021) included a series of semi-structured interviews with key individuals, to inform how clinical goals (e.g., reduced cannabis use) will map onto usage goals (e.g., goal-setting, peer networking), features (e.g., expert-moderated forum, notifications) and workflow. Then, Phase 2 (completed Fall 2022) beta tested and iteratively refined the TECH prototype with 10 court-involved, non-incarcerated (CINI) youth. In the current phase of the work, Phase 3, we will conduct a pilot randomized control trial (RCT) with 60 CINI youth to test the TECH app (TAU+TECH) relative to TAU-only.
Specific aims are:
Aim 1. Apply the Behavior Intervention Theory model to develop a user-driven tool (i.e., TECH) that capitalizes on how, why, and when CINI youth would most prefer to engage with a smartphone app to reduce cannabis use.
~Aim 1 was achieved in Phase 1 qualitative interviews with CINI youth, their parents, and behavioral health app developers.
Aim 2. Examine the feasibility and acceptability of the TECH user-driven smartphone app.
~Hypothesis 1 is that TECH will be feasible and acceptable to CINI youth, as measured via enrollment and withdrawal rates, app usage data, and exit interviews. Aim 2 will be achieved through Phase 2 beta testing (n = 10) and Phase 3's pilot RCT (n = 60) with CINI youth.
Aim 3. Test the preliminary efficacy of the TECH smartphone app as an adjunct to TAU (TECH + TAU vs. TAU-only) on cannabis use (primary outcome).
~Hypothesis 2 is that, relative to CINI youth who receive TAU-only, the TAU+TECH group will demonstrate greater reductions in cannabis use. Aim 3 will be achieved via Phase 3's pilot RCT (n = 60 CINI youth).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| TAU-only | Active comparator | Behavioral: Treatment as usualTreatment as usual |
| TAU + TECH | Experimental | Behavioral: Treatment as usual, Behavioral: Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH) appTreatment as usual, plus TECH app |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 14 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Aged 14 years to 18 years
- Able to speak and read English
- Have access to a smartphone
- Self-report past-year cannabis use
- If a minor, able to provide parental consent and child assent
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment as usualTreatment as Usual at the local family court, which includes a brief, computerized motivation enhancement intervention. All CINI youth will receive TAU, regardless of condition. | Behavioural | TAU + TECH, TAU-only |
| Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH) appAn adjunct smartphone app (i.e., TECH) developed to support TAU. All participants randomly assigned to TAU+TECH will receive the TECH app. | Behavioural | TAU + TECH |
Primary outcome
Change in days of cannabis use (Preliminary Efficacy)
Time frame: Last 90 days at baseline, and 1-, 3-, and 6-months
Self-report of total days of cannabis use, via Timeline Followback Interview
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Apr 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 40924271Helseth SA, Piper KN, Dunne CJ, Kemp K, Barnett NP, Clark MA, Spirito A, Becker SJ. User-centered Design of an Adjunct Smartphone App to Reduce Cannabis Use among Youth Diverted from the Juvenile Legal System. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2025 Dec;53(12):1797-1811. doi: 10.1007/s10802-025-01370-6. Epub 2025 Sep 9.
- Results publication: PubMed 35275086Helseth SA, Guigayoma J, Price D, Spirito A, Clark MA, Barnett NP, Becker SJ. Developing a Smartphone-Based Adjunct Intervention to Reduce Cannabis Use Among Juvenile Justice-Involved Adolescents: Protocol for a Multiphase Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 Mar 11;11(3):e35402. doi: 10.2196/35402.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Cannabis Use
Not yet recruiting
Substance Use and Media Preferences
Substance Use Behavior, Cannabis Intoxication
RecruitingObservational study
Study of an Oral Fluid Testing Approach
Cannabis Use, Cannabis Intoxication
Active, not recruitingPhase 1
Psilocybin-assisted Treatment for Cannabis Use Disorder
Cannabis Use Disorder
RecruitingObservational study
Assessing Benefits and Harms of Cannabis/Cannabinoid Use Among Cancer Patients Treated in Community Oncology Clinics
Breast Carcinoma, Colorectal Carcinoma
Not yet recruitingEarly Phase 1
Lung Health and Breath Biomarkers: Acute Effects of Inhaled Cannabis
Cannabis Use, Tobacco
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
4 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Treatment as usual and Teen Empowerment through Computerized Health (TECH) app in people with Cannabis Use and Adolescent, run by Northwestern University at 4 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 4 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in days of cannabis use (Preliminary Efficacy) (time frame: Last 90 days at baseline, and 1-, 3-, and 6-months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05979272, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Apr 2026.