A web-based program to help parents prevent substance use in teens
Official title: A Web-Based Media Parenting Intervention to Prevent Youth Substance Use
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-10627881 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a helpful online program can support parents in guiding their kids away from substance use by teaching them how to handle media that shows drugs and alcohol, so they can better protect their children during their teenage years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $223,458 |
| NIH project number | 5R34DA052793-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10627881 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are parents of children aged 12 to 20 who are concerned about substance use and want to learn effective parenting strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Parents of children who are not in the targeted age range or those who do not have concerns about substance use may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how a web-based media parenting intervention can help parents reduce their children's risk of substance use during adolescence. It focuses on the influence of media portrayals of substance use and aims to equip parents with the skills to manage their children's media exposure effectively. By addressing the lack of media parenting skills, the program seeks to empower parents to intervene when their children encounter substance use in media. The intervention will be tested to see if it can successfully lower the rates of early substance use among youth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of substance use among adolescents by enhancing parental involvement and media management.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that media influences can significantly impact youth behavior, suggesting that interventions targeting media exposure may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gabrielli, Joy — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Gabrielli, Joy
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.