A Cannabis Check-Up Program for Young Adults With Psychosis Showed High Acceptance and Completion

The Cannabis Check-Up for Psychosis (CCU-P) — a two-session motivational enhancement therapy intervention — demonstrated 92% completion rate (11 of 12 completed both sessions), high satisfaction ratings, and all participants said they would recommend it to others in Coordinated Specialty Care.

One-arm pilot study with 12 young adults experiencing psychosis who were regular cannabis users enrolled in Coordinated Specialty Care. The intervention was optimized from the Teen Marijuana Check-Up using qualitative interview and focus group data, reviewed by a Stakeholder Advisory Board.

Cannabis use is common among young adults with psychosis and associated with worse outcomes, but few effective interventions exist for this population. Most approaches are too confrontational. This nonjudgmental intervention respects autonomy while providing information to support informed choices.

The cannabis-psychosis relationship is well-established, but telling young adults to 'just stop' doesn't work. Motivational approaches that present information neutrally and support self-directed decision-making may be more effective and better aligned with psychiatric rehabilitation principles.

Very small pilot (n=12), no control group or cannabis use outcome data. Measured feasibility and acceptability, not efficacy. One-arm design cannot determine if the intervention actually changes behavior. Specific to Coordinated Specialty Care settings.