Mobile intervention to address cannabis use disorder among black adults: A proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: African American or Black adults who use cannabis face significant cannabis-related health disparities, including more frequent cannabis use and higher rates of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) relative to non-Hispanic/Latinx White adults who use cannabis. This highlights the need for accessible, culturally tailored interventions that address the unique needs of Black adults with CUD. This study evaluated the feasibility, utilization, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a culturally tailored mobile intervention (Culturally Tailored-Mobile Integrated Cannabis and Anxiety Reduction Treatment [CT-MICART]), integrating false safety behavior (FSB) reduction or elimination skills with use reduction or cessation skills.

METHODS: Participants (N = 50, 50.0% female, M = 42.9 years, SD = 10.7) were randomized to: 1) CT-MICART + ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) or 2) EMAs-only for a period of 6-weeks. Feasibility outcomes included enrollment, retention, and EMA completion rates, and utilization was assessed via app feature engagement. Acceptability was evaluated via self-reported app satisfaction, and preliminary efficacy was examined by testing changes in cannabis use outcomes.

RESULTS: Results indicated strong feasibility, high utilization, and positive acceptability. Participants in the CT-MICART + EMA group demonstrated statistically significantly lower cannabis use frequency rates and less time spent intoxicated from cannabis compared to the EMA-only group. No significant effects were observed for cannabis-related problems, CUD severity, or FSB use at the 6-week follow-up.

CONCLUSION: This study provides initial evidence for the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of CT-MICART + EMA for certain cannabis use processes among Black adults with probable CUD. Larger trials are necessary to test whether CT-MICART holds potential as a scalable solution to support use reduction or cessation goals for this population.