Helping Eliminate Marijuana Use Through Pediatric Practice

The HEMPP study involves three phases: Researchers will (1) Develop a marijuana screening and brief counseling intervention for adolescents, based on expert input, current literature, and themes gathered from focus groups with adolescents and clinicians; (2) Pilot test the acceptability of the 5As marijuana intervention in 2 pediatric primary care practices, where researchers will test the intervention and determine acceptability via in-depth interviews with clinicians, office staff, adolescents and parents; and (3) Pilot test the feasibility of the 5As marijuana intervention in 8 practices (4 intervention/4 comparable control), wherein each practice will enroll 100 adolescents and conduct baseline/exit interviews with all of them. Twenty percent of adolescents/practice (including identified marijuana users) will complete one follow-up interview 3-6 weeks after their practice visit. These interviews will assess physician-delivery of the intervention and any change in use, attitude or behavioral intentions toward marijuana since their clinical visit. Findings will inform the development of a future large-scale trial of adolescent marijuana use, screening and cessation counseling in pediatric primary care. The long-term goal is to improve clinical preventive services for adolescent marijuana cessation. Conducting this work within the AAP PROS network will lead to rapid dissemination of effective interventions.

Inclusion criteria

• Adolescents presenting for regular well or sick visits at their pediatrician's office
• Must live in a home or apartment with access to a telephone and mailing address
• Must be cognitively able to consider the risks of marijuana use
• Must be able to speak English
• Must be able and willing to give informed consent (if 18 years of age or older) or assent (if 14-17 years of age)
• In addition: parents/legal guardians of minors must be able and willing to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• None