Intervention

Online Interventions May Cease Illicit Cannabis Use

On-Line personalized feedback intervention for negative effect and cannabis- A pilot randomized controlled trial

In Summary

Researchers have determined that brief, online interventions help undergraduates cease abusing cannabis to treat negative affect and social anxiety. It was found that cannabis users who experience more severe symptoms of social anxiety experience greater cannabis-related problems than their cohorts who did not experience symptoms of social anxiety yet felt unable to cease using cannabis on their own. When interviewed, participants revealed that they felt uncomfortable, and were therefore unlikely, to seek out in-person treatment. The novel online intervention that educates about cannabis abuse and managing negative effect was effective for most participants in the experimental group at the two-week follow-up. Future research should include on a longer timeline and focus on teaching safe cannabis, as cannabis is a broad term, use rather than complete abstinence. 

The authors highlight the importance of meeting patients and that are in need of medical interventions at home. We currently live in the digital age and essentially everything can be done online; buying groceries, clothing, finding home improvement workers, etc. Considering the lingering stigma surrounding mental health issues and addiction and the number of undergraduate students who report feelings of depression and anxiety, it seems shocking that personalized online interventions are so rare. Further research should aim to continue developing personalized methods of at-home treatment so that those in need can feel comfortable addressing their needs. 

The study is available for review or download here

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Benjamin Caplan, MDOnline Interventions May Cease Illicit Cannabis Use
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Interventions by Nursing Staff Aids in the Recovery of Addicts

The effectiveness of a brief motivational nursing intervention to reduce psychoactive substance consumption in entertainment-sector workers- transversal, observation, and semi-experimental study

In Summary

In this observational study followed by a small experiment, it was revealed that addicts attempting to recover from substance abuse were benefited by an intervention from nursing staff. Addiction continues to claim the lives of many members of society, which could be heard as a calling for the development of effective treatment plans to help addicts recover. This work aims to test the effectiveness of outside motivation during recovery. Addicts in support groups found benefit from intervention during their recovery as the presenters facilitated an increase in self-motivation. 

This study highlights the prevalence of abuse among entertainment workers. Certain areas of work maintain a celebratory culture that is almost synonymous with drug culture in today’s society. There are members of the greater community who are at higher risk of substance abuse than others, yet few outreach and education programs designate dedicated focus to support these groups. As substance abuse continues, federal health programs will need to be implemented to help prevent members of society from engaging in dangerous behavior. Motivating them to disengage from dangerous activity is one such intervention!

The study is available for review or download here

View more studies like this in the CED Foundation Archive 

To explore related information, click the keywords below:

Benjamin Caplan, MDInterventions by Nursing Staff Aids in the Recovery of Addicts
read more