Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

The Canadian Underage Substance Use Prevention Trial

Canada12,500 participantsStarted 2019-12-01

Plain-language summary

Despite having made some strides with respect to reducing adolescent drinking rates, illicit substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) remain significantly above national targets for health promotion and disease prevention in Canada and the United States. Now, more than ever, there is a pressing need for effective substance abuse prevention in Canada, particularly for those most at risk of developing substance use problems including prescription drug misuse. Clearly, new approaches to prevention (with lower numbers needed to treat) are needed and which translate new research on addiction vulnerability to personalised prevention and early intervention. The PreVenture Program involves brief cognitive-behavioural interventions targeting personality traits from a neurocognitive perspective. While the personality-targeted approach has been shown to be effective in reducing most substance use behaviors, it has yet to be evaluated for its impact on uptake of prescription drug misuse in adolescents. The Canadian Underage Substance use Prevention (CUSP) Trial aims to evaluate the long-term effects of a personality-targeted school-based prevention program on delaying the onset of drug and alcohol use in adolescence over three years across Canada. This is a hybrid effectiveness \[E\] and implementation-facilitation \[IF\] trial on delaying the onset of drug and alcohol use in adolescence. In the \[E\] part, the effects of a personalized prevention program will be tested against usual school-based prevention curricula. PreVenture is delivered through a TtT implementation model with or without \[IF\], e.g. with ongoing supervision and web-based support. The \[IF\] package is designed to support long-term sustainability of PreVenture after a community accesses PreVenture training.

Who can participate

Age range

15 Years – 16 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Survey: All year 10 students with youth consent and parental passive or active consent (depending on local site requirements) will be eligible to participate in the survey * PreVenture: Eligibility will include consenting to study protocol and scoring 0.9 or more Standard Deviations (SD) above the school's norm on the 23-item Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS). The SURPS is a 23-item validated tool that assesses four personality dimensions along the internalizing (hopelessness (HOP) and anxiety sensitivity (AS)) and externalizing (impulsivity (IMP) and sensation seeking (SS)) spectrum. It has been shown to predict specific substance use patterns, including cannabis use and non-medical use of prescription drugs. Of those screened in a given year, approximately 1350 (45%) will report elevated personality profiles and will be eligible for intervention. Exclusion Criteria: \- Students that do not have either the site-specific parental consent/assent or youth consent will not be eligible to participate in the survey or PreVenture

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Effectiveness (primary): Risk of substance use problems

Timeframe: Baseline to 24 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04198974

SponsorSt. Justine's Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-04

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Substance Use Disorders trials