The Marijuana Check-Up
by Doug Fisher
"I couldn't believe it. I'm not sure what I expected, but participating in the project was a completely guilt-free experience."
These are the words of one man who participated in the Marijuana Check-Up (MCU), and our hope is that everyone who participates in the project feels this way.
Just what is the Marijuana Check-Up? The MCU is a research project run by the Innovative Programs Research Group at the University of Washington School of Social Work. This project is unique in many ways. First of all, the project has a completely non-judgmental and objective perspective on marijuana use. Unlike many substance use programs that label clients as "addicts" and are designed to "treat a problem" and help it to "go away," the MCU takes no such stance in relation to marijuana and those who use it. This may seem unusual, but then, we believe the Check-Up is pretty much a one-of-a-kind project.
This program was created to serve adults who use marijuana, have some concerns, but aren't sure whether they need or want to change their use. Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the project will help determine whether providing individuals with different types of supportive information will assist people in resolving their concerns about the use of marijuana. It differs from other programs in that it is just a check-up, not a treatment program. What an individual does with the information is entirely up to them. And, there is no pressure to change one's marijuana use.
Men and women who have questions or concerns about their own marijuana use are provided with an opportunity to explore that use in one of two ways. After an initial assessment that explores attitudes, beliefs and usage patterns, those who are eligible to participate are randomly assigned to receive a one-on-one personal feedback session with a trained counselor or a multimedia feedback session. In the former case, the counselor and participant spend 90 minutes looking at the results of the assessment and discussing any ways in which the client may be feeling ambivalent or "on the fence" about his or her use. The therapist does not take a stand for or against change. They are strictly a facilitator in the client's search for a clearer understanding of the role they want marijuana to play in their life. The multimedia feedback session consists of computer generated slides that provide unbiased information about marijuana, and a video produced in Australia that offers a propaganda-free look at marijuana. We use an Australian documentary because there was nothing available stateside that wasn't tainted with the prevailing "all drugs are bad" attitude.
For those who are concerned about the motives of a project like this, we want to tell you something about the head of the study. Roger Roffman is a professor at the School of Social Work and has been involved, for the past 10 years or so, in creating and testing innovative ways of reducing barriers to accessing health care related assistance. His interest in marijuana as a substance that has many practical uses that are currently restricted by conservative legislation is particularly relevant to this project. He was chairperson of the Washington State Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) in the mid-1970s. In 1979 he helped lobby for the implementation of this state's first medical marijuana law, and then assisted the Washington State Board of Pharmacy in operating this program. In recent years, Roffman has been interested in finding helpful and effective ways of offering support to adults who are motivated to explore their marijuana use.
There's more to know about the project. Among other things, it's free and there are some paid follow-up interviews. If you would like to find out more about the Marijuana Check-Up, give us a call at (206) 616-3457. We're open from 8:30 am to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday and we have password protected voice-mail if you want to call after hours.
Douglass S. Fisher divides his time between duties as a consultant to the Innovative Programs Research Group on recruitment for the Marijuana Check-Up and as Clinical Director of an AIDS prevention project at the University of Washington School of Social Work.