CARS: Cannabis and Alcohol Reduction Study for Teens

This study, called CARS, is looking for teenagers aged 13 to 17 who are seeking help for their cannabis or alcohol use. It's testing a computerized treatment called a modified Approach-Avoidance Task (mAAT). This task aims to help change automatic reactions to alcohol and cannabis. The study will compare two versions of this task to see if one is better at reducing cannabis and alcohol use. Researchers will also look at how participants' automatic reactions to cannabis change. To join, you must be between 13 and 17, seeking treatment for cannabis or alcohol use, and have used both in the past three months. A caregiver must also be willing to participate. The study's current status is unclear, but it plans to enroll 52 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive a specific treatment. It plans to enroll 52 participants aged 13 to 17.
What's involved
Participants will complete a baseline assessment with questions about alcohol and cannabis use, thoughts, and past experiences. They will then complete computerized tasks and have follow-up assessments at one week and three months.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will have follow-up assessments at one week and three months after treatment.

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NCT05486234

CARS: Cannabis and Alcohol Reduction Study

Recruiting
NAAges 13–17InterventionalTreatment
Medical University of South Carolina
~52 participants
Updated 2026-08-13 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:modified Approach-Avoidance Task (mAAT), which aims to modify automatic approach biasmodified Approach-Avoidance Task (mAAT) that does not aim to modify automatic approach bias.

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in cannabis use as assessed by Timeline Followback
Measured over Baseline and Three-Month Follow-up
+3 more outcomes measured
Cannabis Use
Alcohol Use, Unspecified
Substance Use
Substance Use Disorders
1 sites across 1 states
South Carolina1

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

between the ages of 13 and 17
be seeking treatment for either cannabis or alcohol use;
report co-occurring alcohol and cannabis use during the past three months (i.e., participants who report using both alcohol and cannabis during the three months prior to participation in the study, regardless of if the use was simultaneous)
have a caregiver willing to participate and provide consent.
  • Change in cannabis use as assessed by Timeline FollowbackBaseline and Three-Month Follow-up

    The TLFB is a calendar-assisted semi-structured interview that will be used to assess cannabis and alcohol use since the last assessment. The TLFB will assess the number of days a person used cannabis over the past 90 days compared to the 90 days prior to enrolling in this study.

  • Change in alcohol use as assessed by Timeline FollowbackBaseline and Three-Month Follow-up

    The TLFB is a calendar-assisted semi-structured interview that will be used to assess cannabis and alcohol use since the last assessment. The TLFB will assess the number of days a person consumed alcohol over the past 90 days compared to the 90 days prior to enrolling in this study.

  • Change in Cannabis Approach Bias (D-Score)Baseline, One-Week Follow-up, and Three-Month Follow-up

    D scores will be calculated for each participant at baseline, posttest, and three-month follow-up. Participants' mean reaction times (RTs) during the approach cannabis trials will be subtracted from the mean avoid cannabis trial RTs. These scores are then divided by the SD across all cannabis trials. Positive scores indicate an approach bias for cannabis stimuli.

  • Change Cannabis Approach Bias (D-Score)Baseline, One-Week Follow-up, and Three-Month Follow-up

    D scores will be calculated for each participant at baseline, posttest, and three-month follow-up. Participants' mean reaction times (RTs) during the approach alcohol trials will be subtracted from the mean avoid alcohol trial RTs. These scores are then divided by the SD across all alcohol trials. Positive scores indicate an approach bias for alcohol stimuli.