Neuroimaging of Instrumental Learning Networks in Adolescent Cannabis Use Treatment

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying whether brain activity related to learning can predict how well teens respond to a treatment program aimed at reducing cannabis use. This research involves adolescents aged 14 to 17 who have varying levels of cannabis use, focusing on brain function during instrumental learning and its association with cannabis use disorder symptoms and treatment success. Participants will undergo a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan while performing a learning task to assess brain activity. They will then take part in a 10-week virtual contingency management program, where they report cannabis use and provide weekly urine drug screens administered by their guardians. Participants can earn prizes for producing drug-free urine tests and reporting no cannabis use during the sessions. After the treatment phase, there is a follow-up visit to assess cannabis use disorder symptoms and readiness to change. Throughout the study, participants and their guardians will receive training on how to use urine drug screens at home. Questionnaires on cannabis cravings and withdrawal symptoms will be completed weekly during the virtual sessions. Researchers will measure cannabis use frequency, quantity, withdrawal, expectancy, and urine drug screen results at several points, including baseline, weekly during treatment, and post-treatment follow-up. The total study participation lasts approximately 13 weeks, including brain scans, virtual sessions, and follow-up assessments.

Neuroimaging of Adolescent Cannabis Use Treatment