Abstract
BackgroundCurrent research shows that overall numbers for cannabis use among adolescents and young adults dropped in recent years. However, this trend is much less pronounced in continuous cannabis use. With regard to the heightened risk for detrimental health- and development-related outcomes, adolescents and young adults with continuous cannabis use need special attention. The health services structure for adolescents and young adults with substance related problems in Germany, is multifaceted, because different communal, medical and judicial agencies are involved. This results in a rather decentralized organizational structure of the help system. This and further system-inherent characteristics make the threshold for young cannabis users rather high. Because of this, there is a need to establish evidence-based low-threshold help options for young cannabis users, which can be easily disseminated. Therefore, a training programme for young cannabis users (age 14-21) was developed in the "CAN Stop" project. Within the project, we seek to implement and evaluate the training programme within different institutions of the help system. The evaluation is sensitive to the different help systems and their specific prerequisites. Moreover, within this study, we also test the practicability of a training provision through laypersons.Methods/DesignThe CAN Stop study is a four-armed randomized wait-list controlled trial. The four arms are needed for the different help system settings, in which the CAN Stop training programme is evaluated: (a) the drug addiction aid and youth welfare system, (b) the out-patient medical system, (c) the in-patient medical system and (d) prisons for juvenile offenders. Data are collected at three points, before and after the training or a treatment as usual, and six months after the end of either intervention.DiscussionThe CAN Stop study is expected to provide an evidence-based programme for young cannabis users seeking to reduce or quit their cannabis use. Moreover, we seek to gain knowledge about the programme's utility within different settings of the German help system for young cannabis users and information about the settings' specific clientele. The study protocol is discussed with regard to potential difficulties within the different settings.Trial registrationISRCTN: ISRCTN57036983
Highlights
Current research shows that overall numbers for cannabis use among adolescents and young adults dropped in recent years
The study protocol is discussed with regard to potential difficulties within the different settings
In this paper, we describe the study design of an innovative training targeting young cannabis users in rather different settings, which are very differently organised but at the same time all share the goal to reduce their clientele’s prior cannabis use
Summary
Current research shows that overall numbers for cannabis use among adolescents and young adults dropped in recent years. In 2008, the lifetime prevalence of cannabis use among German adolescents and young adults between age 12 and 25 of 28.3% dropped for the first time after a continuous rise throughout previous years (1997: 18.9%; 2001: 25.6%; 2004: 31.1%) [1] This trend was confirmed by another large study throughout various European countries and North America in a survey of adolescents and their cannabis use over the past 12 months [2]. Gross, Manning, Gossop, Witton and Strang [3] showed that adolescent cannabis users (age 14-16) spent more time with peers, who were involved in criminal activities and/or consumed cannabis and other substances (tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs), while spending less time with parents These phenomena tended to be more pronounced when adolescents initiated their cannabis use early within their life-span. The strain for affected family members especially parents - can be considerable when adolescent marijuana use becomes a habit in the family [7]
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