Effects of taking a break from digital media on drug-using college students
Official title: Neurobiological impact of acute digital media abstinence among drug using college students
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10892040 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how taking a break from phones and computers might change drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms in college students who use drugs, to help understand how digital media affects their behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $76,756 |
| NIH project number | 5F32DA057876-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10892040 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are college students who use drugs and frequently engage with digital media.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use drugs or have minimal digital media engagement may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how abstaining from digital media, such as mobile phones and computers, affects drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms in college students who use drugs. Participants will undergo a period of digital media abstinence, during which they will surrender their mobile phones overnight. The study aims to assess changes in brain function and the relationship between digital media use and drug-related behaviors. By understanding these connections, the research seeks to identify factors that may lead to increased risk of substance use disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could help develop strategies to reduce drug cravings and improve mental health among college students.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that digital media use can impact mental health and substance use, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Flannery, Jessica Shannon — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Flannery, Jessica Shannon
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.