MiWaves: A Micro-Randomized Trial (MRT) to Monitor and Reduce Cannabis Use
MiWaves: A Micro-Randomized Trial (MRT) to Monitor and Reduce Cannabis Use
Researchers are piloting an innovative mobile health (mHealth) intervention called “MiWaves” designed to assist emerging adults, aged 18-25, in monitoring and reducing their cannabis use.
MiWaves includes three key intervention components:
By seamlessly integrating with the daily lives of emerging adults through their smartphones, this project has the potential to make a significant impact on public health by addressing cannabis use right at the start of its trajectory.
This MiWaves pilot study, funded by a d3center Pilot Grant, will test the feasibility and acceptability of a Micro-Randomized Trial (MRT) to empirically inform MiWaves.
The MRT is a novel trial design for empirically developing “just-in-time adaptive interventions” (JITAIs). In an MRT, each participant is randomized repeatedly to intervention components under investigation (e.g., messages that focus on reducing cannabis use) at each decision point. The results can be used to answer causal questions about the benefits of delivering (vs. not delivering) specific intervention components, and whether these benefits vary by time and context.
Just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) provide tremendous potential for preventing the escalation and consequences of cannabis use.

Principal Investigator
Laura N. Coughlin, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Michigan Medicine
U-M Addiction Center
Key Collaborators
Susan A. Murphy, Harvard University
Inbal Billie Nahum-Shani, University of Michigan