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A Hybrid Type 1 Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online and Text-Messaging Intervention to Prevent Alcohol and Cannabis Initiation, Escalation, and Consequences Among First-Year College Students
Sponsor: The University of Texas at Arlington
Summary
Building on promising pilot findings, this study will employ a Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness-Implementation RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel intervention for first-year college students who abstain from or use alcohol and cannabis lightly, compared to assessment-only control. Aim 1 will finalize the intervention through student feedback to ensure relevance and engagement and Aim 2 will test its impact on abstaining and light alcohol and cannabis use, related consequences, and key cognitive and behavioral outcomes in a two-arm RCT (N = 800) across the first semester and academic year. Aim 3 will assess early implementation outcomes using mixed methods, including focus groups with a Campus Advisory Board, validated survey measures, and intervention analytics, to inform future dissemination and implementation strategies.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 19 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
800
Start Date
2028-09-01
Completion Date
2030-08
Last Updated
2026-10-30
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
Online and Text Message Intervention
Participants in the intervention condition will receive a brief web-based personalized feedback intervention, which will use participant data reported in the baseline assessment. Text message intervention content will fall into five categories informed by our prior formative work: (1) prototypes, (2) norms, (3) perceived vulnerability, (4) personal goals, and (5) substance-free activities. The intervention is designed to shift the emphasis from reducing heavy use to preventing initiation and escalation by incorporating content that supports students' existing decisions to maintain their abstinence or infrequent alcohol and cannabis use while supporting broader well-being through alternative activities, goal-setting, and peer connections.