Creating tools to identify youth at risk for early substance use

Development of practical screening tools to support targeted prevention of early, high-risk drinking substance use

NIH-funded research University of California, San Diego · NIH-10930960

This study is working on creating easy-to-use tools to help find teenagers who might be at risk for drinking and drug use early on, so that we can better support them before these issues start.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Diego NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project IDNIH-10930960 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to develop effective screening tools that can accurately identify adolescents at risk for early high-risk drinking and drug use. By utilizing data from the large Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study, the project will analyze various risk and resilience factors among a diverse group of youth. The goal is to create reliable methods that can be used in real-world settings to target prevention programs effectively before substance use begins.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 10 to 21 who have not yet engaged in substance use but may be at risk due to various factors.

Not a fit: Patients who are already engaged in high-risk substance use or those outside the age range of 10 to 21 may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better identification of at-risk youth, allowing for timely and targeted prevention efforts to reduce substance use.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using large-scale data to identify risk factors for substance use, making this approach both innovative and grounded in existing methodologies.

Where this research is happening

La Jolla, 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.