An Urgent Need for School-Based Diversion Programs for Adolescent Substance Use: A Statewide Survey of School Personnel.
Jessica Liu, Rebecca Butler, Amy Turncliff...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37318411Actively Recruiting
Phase Not Applicable
Age: 9Years - 22Years
All Genders
ID06115746
A Randomized Clinical Trial of the iDECIDE Drug Education and Diversion Program for Middle and High School Students with Recent School Substance Use Violations
Led by Massachusetts General Hospital · Updated on 2025-10-30
300
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
245 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
M
Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead Sponsor
M
Massachusetts Department of Health
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating the iDECIDE program, a new drug education and diversion curriculum aimed at middle and high school students who have recently violated school substance use policies. This randomized controlled trial involves about 300 participants and seeks to compare the effects of the iDECIDE curriculum against a waitlist control group. The study focuses on improving knowledge about drug effects and brain development, changing attitudes towards substance use, and influencing behavior related to substance use among adolescents. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the iDECIDE group or a waitlist control group. Those in the iDECIDE group will attend four weekly sessions of the drug education program, delivered via videoconference or in-person. Each session lasts 60 to 75 minutes and covers topics such as addiction neurobiology, adolescent brain development, motives for substance use, risk factors, and goal setting. The waitlist group will receive monitoring without the education program during the first month, after which they may choose to participate in iDECIDE. Throughout the one-year study, participants will complete nine visits including baseline, intervention, and follow-up assessments at one week, one month, six months, and one year after the intervention ends. These visits involve questionnaires and assessments conducted by staff unaware of group assignments. Researchers will measure knowledge of drug effects, readiness to quit or reduce use, perceptions of harm, and frequency of substance use. Participants will be compensated for attending sessions and providing urine samples.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
A Randomized Clinical Trial of a Novel Drug Education and Diversion Program (iDECIDE) for Middle and High School Students
Who Can Participate
Age: 9Years - 22Years
All Genders
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Currently enrolled in middle or high school
- Violated school substance use policy within approximately the past month at the time of screening
- Has a parent or legal guardian able and willing to provide written informed consent if under 18
- Competent and willing to provide written informed assent if under 18, or written informed consent if 18 or older
- Able to commit to 9 study visits over approximately one year
- Able to safely participate in the protocol and appropriate for outpatient care, per investigator
- Has access to a reliable internet connection and a device that can run Zoom
- Able to read and write comfortably in a language spoken by study staff
You will not qualify if you...
- Ever received substance use treatment in an inpatient or specialty care setting
- Ever engaged in intravenous (IV) drug use
- Current daily use of alcohol, non-medical benzodiazepines, and/or opioid use
AI-Screening
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1
2
3
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
Actively Recruiting
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Research Team
R
Randi M Schuster, PhD
K
Kendall Roberts
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
2
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Published Research Related To This Trial
A randomized controlled trial of varenicline and brief behavioral counseling delivered by lay counselors for adolescent vaping cessation: Study protocol.
Randi M Schuster, Corinne Cather, Gladys N Pachas...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37009114