Teens want cannabis cessation apps with rewards, self-tracking, and privacy

Five themes emerged from focus groups with 37 cannabis-using teens: (1) rewards mimicking social media engagement plus prosocial activity rewards for progressive use reduction, (2) ability to self-monitor progress, (3) peer social support within the app, (4) privacy through discrete logo/name and usernames, (5) individualized frequency and content of notifications.

Qualitative study using six semistructured focus groups with 37 adolescents aged 14-17 who used cannabis, recruited from San Diego County high schools. Iterative coding with structural and pattern coding.

Current cannabis use interventions for adolescents have modest effects and high relapse rates. Understanding what teens actually want in a cessation tool could improve engagement and retention, which are the biggest barriers to treatment effectiveness.

Digital health interventions for substance use are growing, but most are designed by adults for adults. This study takes the unusual step of asking the target population what would actually work for them, potentially improving the notoriously poor engagement rates of digital health tools.

Small sample from a single geographic area. Focus groups may not capture the views of more isolated or heavily using teens. Preferences expressed in focus groups may not predict actual app engagement. No testing of a prototype.