Mobile Technology to Reduce Teen Substance Misuse

Summary

The goal of this study is to test the newly expanded WisePath for Teens (WPT) for substance use app, a direct-to-consumer paired mobile phone app for iOS and Android platforms that supports parents/guardians in delivering evidence-based techniques to reduce youth substance abuse and co-occurring mental health problems. This project will expand WPT for use with a general population of teens with problematic substance use and their parents to reduce substance abuse, its harmful effects, opioid overdoses, and progression to substance use disorders, as well as other behavioral health problems that are exacerbated by substance abuse and/or interfere with substance abuse treatment.

Conditions

• Substance Use
• Substance Abuse
• Suicide
• Adolescent

Interventions

OTHER

WisePath for Teens

WPT is a paired mobile phone app for use on both Android and iOS operating systems by youth experiencing SA and their parents/guardians.

BEHAVIORAL

Peer Support Services (PSS)

PSS are provided by people with lived experience with histories of adolescent substance abuse and are now in recovery who are also certified as peer support specialists. A specialist will virtually (e.g., over the phone, screensharing) meet with families regularly to provide support and ensure that families are able to use iKinnect-SA and access the app's features.

DEVICE

Control

Website with icon on participant's phone with Android or iOS operating systems.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Maryland, Baltimore

  collaborator OTHER

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

  collaborator NIH

• Evidence-Based Practice Institute, Seattle, WA

  lead INDUSTRY

Principal Investigators

• Linda Dimeff, PhD · Chief Scientific Officer, Evidence-Based Practice Institute

• Cindy Schaeffer, PhD · Associate Professor, University of Maryland-Baltimore

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-08-18

Primary Completion

2026-11-30

Completion

2027-04-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations