Creating a smartphone app to help teens reduce marijuana use
Official title: Development and Preliminary Testing of an Adjunct Smartphone App to Reduce Marijuana Use in Court-Involved, Non-Incarcerated Adolescents
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-10802381 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a smartphone app to help teenagers aged 14-17 who are involved with the court to cut down on their marijuana use, and it aims to find out what these young people need and like in order to make the app helpful and easy to use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $188,705 |
| NIH project number | 5K23DA048062-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10802381 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are court-involved adolescents aged 14-17 who are not incarcerated but are at risk for substance use issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in the juvenile justice system or those outside the age range of 14-17 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a smartphone application designed to assist court-involved adolescents in reducing their marijuana use. The project aims to understand the needs and preferences of these youth, aged 14-17, and evaluate the app's feasibility and acceptability. By integrating technology into treatment, the research seeks to provide an accessible intervention that can be used alongside existing motivational strategies. The goal is to create a sustainable solution that helps maintain behavior change over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a valuable tool for adolescents to manage and reduce their marijuana use effectively.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with technology-assisted interventions for substance use, indicating potential for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Helseth, Sarah Ashley — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Helseth, Sarah Ashley
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.