A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials for Behavioral Interventions Targeting Alcohol and Cannabis Use in Young Adults

There is a wide range of behavioral interventions based on different theoretical approaches; some have shown some level of effectiveness in reducing cannabis and alcohol use rates, but few have been tested using a Randomized Controlled Trial (rct) design. We searched medline, Embase, apa psycnet, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for rcts published in English that examined behavioral interventions for cannabis and alcohol consumption. We screened 207 abstracts and identified 11 rcts involving 4,211 young adults. Interventions with higher retention rates and statistically significant results were delivered in an online format and they were focused mostly on cannabis use reduction. Only the combination of motivational interviewing and behavioral economics showed significant results after follow-up, with a high retention rate. Integrating behavioral interventions embedded into public policies at institutional, local, or national levels could lead to more positive outcomes and long-term effectiveness. Applying these evidence-based interventions in public policy strategies could enhance long-term health outcomes and provide scalable solutions to address substance use among young adults.