Designing an Online and Text-Messaging Intervention to Enhance Protective Behavioral Strategy Utilization at the Daily Level Among Young Adults Engaged in Alcohol and Cannabis Use.

Objective: This article describes the development of an online and text-messaging intervention aimed at augmenting protective behavioral strategy (PBS) utilization at the daily level among young adults engaged in alcohol and cannabis use. PBS, encompassing tips and strategies to moderate alcohol and cannabis use and reduce associated risks, have been integral components of personalized feedback interventions. The quality and consistency of PBS use have been underexplored in intervention frameworks.

Method: We describe 6 initial focus groups and 13 cognitive interviews that were conducted with young adults who use alcohol and cannabis to learn the motivations underpinning alcohol and cannabis PBS utilization, barriers impeding PBS use, and PBS use with high quality and consistency. This step served as the cornerstone for crafting targeted intervention strategies. Drawing from the insights from the focus groups and cognitive interviews, we developed an interactive online intervention and text message platform. We then conducted 3 additional focus groups and 9 cognitive interviews with young adults who use alcohol and cannabis to gain insight on intervention content and to implement any needed changes.

Results: We present the final iteration of the intervention, which consisted of a brief, web-based intervention followed by text messages 3 days a week for 8 consecutive weeks as well as two monthly daily-level summaries of behaviors reported across 8 weeks.

Conclusions: This article shares our process for designing an intervention using daily-level data, aimed at reducing alcohol and cannabis use among young adults and fostering quality and consistent use of PBS.