College student cannabis consumption has reached its highest rate in decades, creating a demand for research concerning short-term and long-term effects of cannabis on student health and well-being, in addition to research regarding motivating factors and influences surrounding the climbing use rates.  As literature concerning the health effects of cannabis continues to accumulate, it has been generally suggested that healthy adults may see more negative consequences than any purported positive consequences of cannabis use.  A handful of cannabis-based drug formulations are indicated in some epileptic and/or critically ill patient populations, but this represents an obviously small minority who have been responsibly prescribed these medications.  Many interventions have been designed to mitigate use, with the Marijuana eCHECKUP TO GO (eCTG) intervention considered to be a relatively newer example.  This study aims to compare cannabis use outcomes in a population of students who received either the eCTG or a healthy stress management (HSM) intervention.   

The study’s sample is comprised of 298 undergraduate students from a university in a cannabis-legal state (51% male, mean age= 19.97 yrs.).  Participants were required to meet the following eligibility criteria: 18 years of age or older, reporting recreational cannabis use of twice per week, and current enrollment.  Participants completed baseline surveys which assessed the following cannabis use, consequences, norms, and protective behavioral strategies before being randomly assigned to receive eCTG or HSM (control).  The eCTG group received the full intervention which included personalized normative feedback (PNF), while the HSM group received a general set of stress management techniques.  A follow up survey like that of the baseline survey was conducted after 6 weeks to compare the two group’s outcomes.  Data analysis was performed using bivariate correlation and multi-group path analysis.   

Results of the analysis found descriptive cannabis norm perceptions to decrease in both groups, with the eCTG group experiencing significantly greater decreases in this specific score.  The intervention group saw a decrease in cannabis use frequency (time since last use) via the moderating variable concerning injunctive norm perceptions.  The study was limited by its 25% attrition rate, in addition to a lack of accounting for calendar variation when calculating for time since last use.   

Takeaway: The Marijuana eCHECKUP TO GO intervention program may be effective in reducing cannabis use in college students, but additional research is needed to verify the extent to which it is considered effective, especially in comparison to other techniques and programs.

Fetterling T, Parnes J, Prince MA, et al. Moderated Mediation of the eCHECKUP TO GO College Student Cannabis Use Intervention. Substance Use & Misuse. 2021;0(0):1-8. doi:10.1080/10826084.2021.1937225