What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: THC, Mental Health, Addiction.

Where was this research published?

Published in Research square on July 30, 2026.

Real-time digital tools may help curb youth cannabis-related harms

Q: What did this research study find?

*Cannabis* was studied in **67%** of the included EMA/EMI studies, making it one of the most frequently examined substances among youth in clinical settings.

Ecological momentary assessments and interventions for youth substance use across clinical settings: A systematic review.

Research square • July 30, 2026 • Relevant

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AI Summary

This systematic review examined how ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) can track and address substance use in real time among young people receiving clinical care. Across 43 studies involving 24 unique protocols, cannabis was one of the most commonly studied substances, included in 67% of studies, alongside alcohol and nicotine or tobacco. Typical EMA programs lasted 14 days and sent 4 daily prompts, with some also using passive sensing such as mobile or wearable data.

The review found that substance use was most consistently linked with negative affect, situational factors such as evenings and weekends, social settings involving friends, and previous substance use—although results varied across studies. Passive sensing showed strong predictive performance, while 13 studies evaluating EMIs reported reduced substance-related harms after providing real-time feedback, goal-setting, or coping support. The authors describe these tools as promising for delivering individualized support, but emphasize that the evidence remains exploratory and methodologically heterogeneous. For cannabis users, the practical implication is that future digital interventions may be able to identify high-risk moments and offer support when it is most relevant, rather than relying only on later recall or scheduled appointments.

💡 Key Findings

Cannabis was studied in 67% of the included EMA/EMI studies, making it one of the most frequently examined substances among youth in clinical settings.

High

85%

Negative affect, evenings and weekends, social contexts involving friends, and prior substance use showed the most consistent links with momentary substance use, although findings were heterogeneous.

High

80%

Passive sensing demonstrated strong predictive performance, suggesting that behavioral or physiological signals may help identify periods of elevated substance-use risk.

Good

65%

Across 13 EMI evaluations, real-time feedback, goal-setting, and coping support were associated with reduced substance-use harms, but the review characterizes the overall evidence as exploratory.

Good

70%

The review concludes that EMA/EMI approaches can provide timely, individualized support, while calling for greater methodological transparency and rigor in future research.

High

80%

📄 Original Abstract

Preventing youth substance use and related harms is a global priority. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and ecological momentary interventions (EMIs), which assess and address substance use in real-time, may improve mechanistic understanding, screening, intervention in clinical care. This review synthesized EMA/EMI studies examining substance use among youth in clinical settings. A systematic narrative review (PsychInfo, Medline Scopus) identified EMA/EMI studies assessing substance use in clinical samples of youth (mean/median age ≤ 25) across emergency, medical, mental health, and substance use treatment settings. Of 12093 titles/abstracts and 2157 full texts, 43 studies of 24 unique protocols (15 observational, 9 intervention) were included. Alcohol (75%), cannabis (67%), and nicotine/tobacco (33%) were the most frequently studied substances. EMA protocols typically lasted 14 days with 4 daily prompts; 3 incorporated passive (bio)sensing. Studies included 270 momentary antecedents and 17 momentary consequences of substance use, organized into six domains: substance use, affect/cognitions, environmental context, social context, movement factors, and EMA compliance. Negative affect, contextual factors (e.g., evenings, weekends, friends), and prior substance use showed the most consistent associations with use, although findings were heterogeneous. Passive sensing approaches demonstrated strong predictive performance. Thirteen evaluated EMIs integrating real-time monitoring with feedback, goal-setting, and/or coping support reduced substance use harms. EMA/EMI approaches show promise for understanding and addressing dynamic, context-dependents substance use processes among youth in clinical settings. While the evidence remains exploratory and methodologically heterogenous, findings suggest EMIs can deliver timely, individualized support. Future research should prioritize greater methodological transparency and rigor.