title: Moderating effects of race in clinical trial participation and outcomes among marijuana-dependent young adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined clinical trial participation rates and treatment outcomes among underserved young adults who are dependent on marijuana, the most commonly abused illicit drug.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was a secondary analysis of a trial of court-referred marijuana-dependent young adults (ages 18-25) randomized to one of four treatment conditions: Motivational Enhancement Therapy/Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MET/CBT), MET/CBT+Contingency Management (CM), Drug Counseling (DC) or DC+CM. African American (N=81) participants were compared to White (N=31) participants with respect to rates of participation in phases of treatment and substance use outcomes. In addition, the interaction of race and treatment condition was examined to ascertain if the interventions yielded different effects based on race.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among those who started treatment, African American young adults were significantly less likely to complete the treatment and posttreatment phases of the clinical trial than their White counterparts. Irrespective of treatment type, substance use outcomes (i.e., percentage of marijuana-negative specimens and longest duration of continuous abstinence) did not vary by race. However, there was a significant interaction effect between treatment type and race; African American young adults did not benefit differentially from any specific type of treatment, but CM was effective in reducing proportion of marijuana positive samples among White young adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that clinical trial treatment and posttreatment completion rates vary by race in this population, as does response to specific treatment types. More treatment research focusing specifically on African American marijuana-dependent young adults is warranted.
authors: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT 06511, United States. latrice.montgomery@yale.edu
authors: LaTrice
authors: L
authors: Montgomery
authors: Nancy M
authors: NM
authors: Petry
authors: Kathleen M
authors: KM
authors: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018579:Patient Selection; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult; D001741:Black or African American