A digital game to help prevent opioid misuse in teenagers at school health centers

A digital intervention to prevent the initiation of opioid misuse in adolescents in school-based health centers

NIH-funded research Dartmouth College · NIH-10977637

This study is testing a fun video game called PlaySmart that helps teenagers learn how to avoid misusing opioids, and it will be available in school health centers to reach as many students as possible.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDartmouth College NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Hanover, United States)
Project IDNIH-10977637 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to develop and test a digital intervention called PlaySmart, designed to prevent opioid misuse among adolescents. By utilizing a serious videogame format, the intervention engages teenagers in a familiar and interactive way, providing them with essential behavioral skills and knowledge. The project will be implemented in school-based health centers, where it can reach a large number of students effectively and efficiently. The development process will involve input from adolescents and collaboration with health professionals to ensure the intervention is relevant and impactful.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents who attend school-based health centers and are at risk of opioid misuse.

Not a fit: Patients who are not adolescents or those who do not have access to school-based health centers may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the initiation of opioid misuse among adolescents, leading to healthier outcomes for young people.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that serious videogame interventions can effectively improve health behaviors, indicating a promising approach for this novel intervention.

Where this research is happening

Hanover, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.