Substance Use Interventions for Truant Adolescents

Adolescents who use marijuana and are truant from school are a high-risk population with
increased likelihood of substance use disorders, criminal justice involvement, and long-term
impairments in vocational, family, and peer domains.

This study will test a theory-driven intervention for early adolescent marijuana using,
truant youth identified through Rhode Island Truancy and Family Courts. Adolescents will be
randomly assigned to one of the 2 conditions: a motivational interview versus
psychoeducation.

Inclusion Criteria:

- the target child is in 6th-10th grade at the start of the project and living at home
with at least one parent/guardian,

- the teen must report 6 or more incidences of marijuana use in the last 90 days (an
approximation of biweekly use)

- by law, the teen must have at least 20 unexcused absences in an academic year to be in
truancy court, and (4) parental consent and teen assent are obtained.

Exclusion Criteria:

- the family is not able to speak and understand English or Spanish well enough to
complete study procedures

- developmental delay, as determined by school placements outside the regular classroom,
that would affect comprehension of the intervention.