Helping Adolescents in Substance Use Treatment Through a Technology-Supported Parenting Program
Official title: Improving Outcomes of Adolescents in Residential Substance use Treatment via a Technology-Assisted Parenting Intervention
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11083700 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers a technology-assisted parenting program to help adolescents in residential substance use treatment and reduce their risk of relapse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $614,621 |
| NIH project number | 5R37DA052918-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11083700 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents currently in residential substance use treatment and their parents.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not in residential substance use treatment or those whose parents are unable to participate may not receive direct benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
Adolescents in residential substance use treatment often face serious challenges and have a high chance of relapsing after leaving care. We know that how parents communicate and monitor their children plays a big role in their recovery. This program, called Parent SMART, uses a computer-based tool called Parenting Wisely to help parents learn new skills. Our goal is to make this support accessible and effective for families, working alongside the usual care adolescents receive.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly reduce relapse rates for adolescents after residential substance use treatment by improving family support.
How similar studies have gone: This program builds on prior successful work and uses a core intervention, Parenting Wisely, that has shown strong evidence of improving parenting skills and reducing youth behavior problems in other clinical trials.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Becker, Sara — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Becker, Sara
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how parenting affects adolescent substance use and emotions
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This study is looking at parents in treatment for substance use who might struggle with using tough parenting methods, and it aims to help them focus on long-term benefits for their kids instead of just immediate rewards, so they can become more positive and supportive parents.
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A web-based program to help parents prevent substance use in teens
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.
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Improving contraception decisions for women with substance use disorders after childbirth
A patient-centered decision tool called MyPath aims to help postpartum women with substance use disorders choose and keep effective contraception after giving birth.
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.