A recent study by the US non-profit organization Truth Initiative shows that a digital intervention program via SMS, primarily aimed at quitting nicotine vaping, also noticeably reduces cannabis use in adolescents and young adults. The results, which emerge as secondary analyses from two large randomized controlled trials, underscore a previously little-researched transfer effect: measures against one substance can have positive effects on the use of other substances.
The program, known as the EX Program and developed in cooperation with the Mayo Clinic, is specifically aimed at young people struggling with nicotine addiction. It includes personalized quit plans, interactive messages, and 24/7 online communities. So far, it has supported millions of users in nicotine cessation and is considered an evidence-based tool that has proven its effectiveness in clinical trials.
The new findings fill a gap in research, as few studies to date have investigated simultaneous quitting of nicotine and cannabis use, and there are no established guidelines for treating polysubstance use in adolescents. Participants who used the SMS program achieved dual abstinence from nicotine e-cigarettes and cannabis significantly more often after seven months compared to the control group, even though cannabis was not explicitly addressed.
Among adolescents, the dual abstinence rate in the intervention group was 38.5 percent, compared to 25.0 percent in the control group – an advantage of 13.5 percentage points. Among young adults, the rate was 17.9 percent compared to 13.3 percent, an increase of 4.6 percentage points. Age-related differences were clearly evident: adolescents had higher baseline rates of cannabis use but responded more strongly to the intervention, achieving greater reductions and higher abstinence rates than young adults.
The baseline values were alarmingly high: 74.6 percent of adolescents and 59.2 percent of young adults reported using cannabis in the past 30 days – figures that significantly exceed national averages from population surveys. Such trends carry risks for brain development, increase the risk of depression, and can lead to earlier onset and more severe courses of psychotic disorders in vulnerable individuals. The combined use of nicotine and cannabis also amplifies the negative effects of both substances.
Researchers attribute possible explanations for the transfer effect to the shared use of similar vaping devices, overlapping triggers and behavioral contexts, as well as the transferability of general change strategies to different substances. The study is based on data from two randomized trials with a total of over 4,000 participants, who were recruited via social media and supported via SMS. The research was primarily funded by Truth Initiative, supplemented by funds from the CVS Health Foundation.
The organization emphasizes the need for further research on polysubstance use and advocates for closer monitoring of youth cannabis trends. The EX Program is available free of charge; interested individuals can start by texting a given number. Truth Initiative, as the largest US public health non-profit, is committed to combating youth addiction and, in addition to the program, also runs national public awareness campaigns.
