Alcohol UsePurple TownNCT07919639
Evaluation of Purple Town
A study testing Purple Town prevention program and Purple town mobile game in people with Alcohol Use and Cannabis Use, run by Paris Nanterre University at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
Purple Town is a media literacy-based prevention and harm reduction program that uses a mobile game, with or without accompanying facilitated workshops, to raise young people's awareness of the risks associated with alcohol and cannabis use. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Alcohol Use, Cannabis Use, Health Literacy
- What is being tested?
- Purple Town prevention program and Purple town mobile game
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 352 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 4 Jan 2022to 11 Jul 2023
- 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 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 18 to 25 years
- Registered user at a participating community-based youth center (NEETs)
- Access to a smartphone with internet access
- Provision of written informed consent
Who cannot join
- None
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Evaluation of Purple Town, a Prevention Program Using a Mobile Game to Address Young People's Exposure to Alcohol and Cannabis Marketing
Purple Town is a media literacy-based prevention and harm reduction program that uses a mobile game, with or without accompanying facilitated workshops, to raise young people's awareness of the risks associated with alcohol and cannabis use. The program aims to develop critical thinking about marketing messages and encourage the adoption of protective behavioral strategies. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the program through a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) among youth.
- Conditions
- Alcohol Use, Cannabis Use, Health Literacy
- Being tested
- Purple Town prevention program, Purple town mobile game
- Keywords
- NEET, Media literacy, Serious game, Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, Alcohol Marketing, Cannabis Marketing
- Medical subject headings
- Alcohol Drinking
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Purple Town prevention programBehavioural
Purple Town is a media literacy-based prevention and harm reduction program that uses the Purple Town mobile game, with accompanying facilitated workshops, to raise young people's awareness of the risks associated with alcohol and cannabis use.
Purple town mobile gameOther
Purple Town is a real-time simulation and strategy game in which players can play as each of three different factions competing to change the fate of a city: 1) the alcohol industry (Tease Company), 2) cannabis dealers (Weedeal), and 3) prevention professionals (League Action) (Fig. 1). The city is divided into five distinct neighborhoods, each characterized by a unique demographic profile (e.g., the business district, where the majority of residents are in their 40s, or the university district, which is predominantly populated by young adults).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Game-only group | Experimental | Participants assigned to the game-only group received a brief introduction to the game and completed one supervised trial session (i.e., one full play-through of the game) with a facilitator. They were then instructed to independently complete up to 15 sessions on their smartphone over the following 15-day period, at a frequency of their choosing. Receives: Other: Purple town mobile game |
| Game + workshops group | Experimental | Participants in the game + workshops group followed the same protocol as the game-only group. In addition, they attended two 2-hour group sessions led by prevention professionals who were specifically trained to deliver the program. Receives: Behavioral: Purple Town prevention program |
| Control group | No intervention | Participants in the control group completed only the baseline and posttest assessments, at 15-day interval. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Skepticism Toward Marketing Scale score
Assessed using the Skepticism Toward Marketing Scale. Measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("Strongly disagree") to 5 ("Strongly agree"). Total scores range from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 50 for alcohol marketing, and from 10 to 35 for cannabis marketing. Higher scores indicate greater critical skepticism toward marketing (a better outcome).
Measured: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up (T2)
Substance Knowledge Questionnaire score
Assessed using the Knowledge About Substance Use Questionnaire (True/False/Don't know items). Correct answers receive 1 point and incorrect/don't know answers receive 0 points. Total scores range from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 10 for alcohol knowledge, and from 0 to 13 for cannabis knowledge. Higher scores indicate greater factual knowledge (a better outcome).
Measured: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
Awareness of Marketing Influence Strategies Questionnaire score
Assessed using the Awareness of Marketing Influence Strategies Questionnaire. Measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("Never") to 5 ("Always"). Total scores range from a minimum of 9 to a maximum of 45 for alcohol, and from 5 to 25 for cannabis. Higher scores indicate greater awareness of marketing strategies (a better outcome).
Measured: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
Protective Behavioral Intentions Questionnaire score
Assessed using the Protective Behavioral Intentions Questionnaire. Measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("Not at all likely") to 5 ("Very likely"). Total scores range from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 25 for alcohol, and from 5 to 25 for cannabis. Higher scores indicate a stronger intention to adopt risk reduction strategies (a better outcome).
Measured: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
Alcohol and Cannabis Lifetime Use Questionnaire Status
Assessed using self-administered questions evaluating lifetime experimentation with alcohol and cannabis (binary outcome: Yes/No)
Measured: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
Secondary outcomes (3)
In-game Application Telemetry Logs
Objective usage data recorded directly by the Purple Town mobile game server, collected as the total number of completed game sessions per participant.
Measured: Over the 15-day intervention period
Attitudes Toward Substance Use Semantic Differential Scale score
Assessed using the Attitudes Toward Substance Use Osgood Semantic Differential Scale (9 bipolar adjective pairs). Each item is rated on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 to 7. Total scores range from a minimum of 7 to a maximum of 63. Higher scores indicate more positive attitudes toward substance use (a worse/more favorable toward risky behavior outcome).
Measured: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
Substance Use Intentions Questionnaire score
Assessed using the Substance Use Intentions Questionnaire. Measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("Not at all likely") to 5 ("Very likely"). Scores range from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 5 per item. Higher scores indicate higher intention to consume substances (a worse outcome).
Measured: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Nov 2026
- Study start4 Jan 2022
- Primary completion11 Jul 2023
- Study completion11 Jul 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Alcohol UseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 352 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Paris Nanterre University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- CRIPS île-de-france, Le Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Processus de Santé
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Tristan Hamonniere, Paris Nanterre University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07919639
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 00012022-23
- Acronym
- Purple Town
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 24 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluation of Purple Town, a Prevention Program Using a Mobile Game to Address Young People's Exposure to Alcohol and Cannabis Marketing
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07919639
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Purple Town / 00012022-23
- Conditions
- Alcohol Use, Cannabis Use, Health Literacy
- Keywords
- NEET, Media literacy, Serious game, Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, Alcohol Marketing, Cannabis Marketing
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 352 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Paris Nanterre UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- CRIPS île-de-france, Le Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Processus de Santé
- Study start
- 4 Jan 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 11 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 11 Jul 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Nov 2026 (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.
Purple Town is a media literacy-based prevention and harm reduction program that uses a mobile game, with or without accompanying facilitated workshops, to raise young people's awareness of the risks associated with alcohol and cannabis use. The program aims to develop critical thinking about marketing messages and encourage the adoption of protective behavioral strategies. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the program through a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) among youth.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Game-only group | Experimental | Other: Purple town mobile gameParticipants assigned to the game-only group received a brief introduction to the game and completed one supervised trial session (i.e., one full play-through of the game) with a facilitator. They were then instructed to independently complete up to 15 sessions on their smartphone over the following 15-day period, at a frequency of their choosing. |
| Game + workshops group | Experimental | Behavioral: Purple Town prevention programParticipants in the game + workshops group followed the same protocol as the game-only group. In addition, they attended two 2-hour group sessions led by prevention professionals who were specifically trained to deliver the program. |
| Control group | No intervention | –Participants in the control group completed only the baseline and posttest assessments, at 15-day interval. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Aged 18 to 25 years
- Registered user at a participating community-based youth center (NEETs)
- Access to a smartphone with internet access
- Provision of written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Town prevention programPurple Town is a media literacy-based prevention and harm reduction program that uses the Purple Town mobile game, with accompanying facilitated workshops, to raise young people's awareness of the risks associated with alcohol and cannabis use. | Behavioural | Game + workshops group |
| Purple town mobile gamePurple Town is a real-time simulation and strategy game in which players can play as each of three different factions competing to change the fate of a city: 1) the alcohol industry (Tease Company), 2) cannabis dealers (Weedeal), and 3) prevention professionals (League Action) (Fig. 1). The city is divided into five distinct neighborhoods, each characterized by a unique demographic profile (e.g., the business district, where the majority of residents are in their 40s, or the university district, which is predominantly populated by young adults). | Other | Game-only group |
Primary outcome
Skepticism Toward Marketing Scale score
Time frame: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up (T2)
Assessed using the Skepticism Toward Marketing Scale. Measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("Strongly disagree") to 5 ("Strongly agree"). Total scores range from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 50 for alcohol marketing, and from 10 to 35 for cannabis marketing. Higher scores indicate greater critical skepticism toward marketing (a better outcome).
Substance Knowledge Questionnaire score
Time frame: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
Assessed using the Knowledge About Substance Use Questionnaire (True/False/Don't know items). Correct answers receive 1 point and incorrect/don't know answers receive 0 points. Total scores range from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 10 for alcohol knowledge, and from 0 to 13 for cannabis knowledge. Higher scores indicate greater factual knowledge (a better outcome).
Awareness of Marketing Influence Strategies Questionnaire score
Time frame: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
Assessed using the Awareness of Marketing Influence Strategies Questionnaire. Measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("Never") to 5 ("Always"). Total scores range from a minimum of 9 to a maximum of 45 for alcohol, and from 5 to 25 for cannabis. Higher scores indicate greater awareness of marketing strategies (a better outcome).
Protective Behavioral Intentions Questionnaire score
Time frame: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
Assessed using the Protective Behavioral Intentions Questionnaire. Measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("Not at all likely") to 5 ("Very likely"). Total scores range from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 25 for alcohol, and from 5 to 25 for cannabis. Higher scores indicate a stronger intention to adopt risk reduction strategies (a better outcome).
Alcohol and Cannabis Lifetime Use Questionnaire Status
Time frame: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
Assessed using self-administered questions evaluating lifetime experimentation with alcohol and cannabis (binary outcome: Yes/No)
3 secondary outcomes
In-game Application Telemetry Logs
Time frame: Over the 15-day intervention period
Attitudes Toward Substance Use Semantic Differential Scale score
Time frame: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
Substance Use Intentions Questionnaire score
Time frame: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up immediately post-intervention (T2)
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 5 Nov 2026.
- Program Information WebsiteLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Purple Town prevention program and Purple town mobile game in people with Alcohol Use and Cannabis Use, run by Paris Nanterre University at 1 site in France.
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 4 inclusion and 1 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 5 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. 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?
Skepticism Toward Marketing Scale score (time frame: Baseline (T1) and 2-week follow-up (T2)). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 5 Nov 2026.