Designing a Text-Based Intervention to Help Young Adults Use Cannabis and Alcohol More Safely | Research

The takeaway

Researchers developed an online and text-messaging program to help young dual-use adults adopt daily protective strategies for safer alcohol and cannabis consumption.

Harm reduction program designers, youth health interventionists, digital health researchers

What the researchers found

Through focus groups and cognitive interviews with young adults, researchers developed an interactive online intervention followed by 8 weeks of text messages (3 per week) promoting protective behavioral strategies. The intervention targets quality and consistency of strategy use at the daily level, rather than just overall use reduction.

Why it matters

Most substance use interventions focus on reduction, but many young adults will continue using. Protective behavioral strategies — practical tips for using more safely — offer a realistic harm reduction approach that meets young people where they are.

The numbers in context

Development included 9 focus groups and 22 cognitive interviews total. Final intervention: 1 web-based session plus text messages 3 days/week for 8 weeks, with 2 monthly daily-level behavior summaries.

How the study worked

Mixed-methods development process: 6 initial focus groups and 13 cognitive interviews to understand PBS motivations and barriers, followed by intervention design, then 3 additional focus groups and 9 cognitive interviews for refinement. Final intervention: brief web-based session plus 8 weeks of text messages.

What this study cannot tell us

Describes intervention development only — no efficacy data reported. Focus group participants may not represent all young dual-use adults. Text-message engagement rates unknown. Long-term behavior change not assessed.

How to read the evidence

Intervention development study without efficacy testing. Well-grounded in qualitative research but unproven in practice.

When this study was published

Published 2026, describing a novel digital harm reduction approach.

The bigger picture

The shift from 'just say no' to 'use more safely' reflects modern harm reduction thinking. By focusing on daily-level behavioral strategies rather than abstinence, this approach could reach the many young adults who won't stop using but could use more safely.

Questions still open

Will daily text messages sustain engagement over 8 weeks? Does the intervention actually reduce harm-related outcomes? Could AI-powered personalization improve the approach? Would this work for cannabis-only users?

Common questions

What are protective behavioral strategies for cannabis and alcohol?

These are practical tips and habits that help reduce harm while using — like setting limits before going out, eating beforehand, alternating with water, avoiding mixing substances, and planning safe transportation.

Can text messages help people use substances more safely?

This intervention sends text messages 3 days a week for 8 weeks with personalized protective strategy reminders, but effectiveness hasn't been tested yet — it's still in the development phase.

Read the original research

Designing an Online and Text-Messaging Intervention to Enhance Protective Behavioral Strategy Utilization at the Daily Level Among Young Adults Engaged in Alcohol and Cannabis Use.

Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 87(1), 23-33

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Lewis, Melissa A; Litt, Dana M; Fairlie, Anne M; Graupensperger, Scott; Cross, Allison; Stankus, Rachel; Murphy, Jennifer; Kilmer, Jason R. (2026). Designing an Online and Text-Messaging Intervention to Enhance Protective Behavioral Strategy Utilization at the Daily Level Among Young Adults Engaged in Alcohol and Cannabis Use.. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 87(1), 23-33. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.24-00434