Cannabis use and alcohol craving and drinking in people starting alcohol treatment
Official title: Effect of Cannabis Use on Alcohol Craving and Consumption among those in Alcohol Treatment
Funded at Brown University · NIH-11380616 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study follows people starting alcohol treatment to see how using cannabis affects their cravings and how much alcohol they drink, using real-time tracking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $634,660 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030990-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380616 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults starting alcohol treatment who use cannabis.
✕Less likely to help
If you do not use cannabis or are not in alcohol treatment, this study would not apply to you.
What this research studies
If you are in early alcohol treatment, this project will monitor how cannabis use relates to your cravings and drinking patterns over the first year. Participants may wear alcohol biosensors and report on cannabis use to help researchers understand when cannabis makes cravings or drinking higher or lower. The goal is to map real-time changes in craving and consumption to cannabis use in a natural setting. Results could inform personalized guidance for people in recovery who also use cannabis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better, tailored support for people in alcohol treatment who use cannabis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests cannabis can influence alcohol craving and use, but findings are mixed and this study seeks to clarify these relationships in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Brown University
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gunn, Rachel Lyn — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Gunn, Rachel Lyn
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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.