Web-App Prevention Program Reduced Cannabis Use in Diverse College Students

Among 1,066 students randomly assigned to a web-app intervention, comparison, or control condition, those in the 5-module web-app group had significantly greater substance knowledge gains, more accurate peer use perceptions, and better understanding of health risks than comparison or control students. Web-app students also had lower incidence rates of cannabis use at program exit, with effects persisting at 90-day follow-up.

Randomized controlled trial with 1,066 participants at a Hispanic Serving Institution in southern California. Students were randomly assigned to control, comparison, or 5-module web-app condition. Surveys assessed knowledge, perceived health risks, normative peer use, and past 30-day substance use at baseline, exit, and 90-day follow-up.

First-generation, working, and ethnic minority college students are underrepresented in substance use prevention research. This study demonstrates that a culturally sensitive digital intervention can effectively reach these populations and produce lasting reductions in cannabis use, filling a critical gap in prevention science.

Digital prevention tools can scale to reach populations that traditional programs miss. The success of this web-app among first-generation and minority students suggests that culturally adapted digital interventions could be a cost-effective strategy for reducing substance use disparities.

Single institution in Southern California. Self-reported substance use. 90-day follow-up is relatively short for assessing lasting behavior change. Cannot determine which specific modules drove the effects. Nicotine use reduction did not persist at follow-up.