Helping teens with substance use and PTSD through integrated care

Evaluation of Clinical Effectiveness, Cost, and Implementation Factors to Optimize Scalability of Treatment for Co-Occurring SUD and PTSD Among Teens

['FUNDING_R01'] · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · NIH-11101391

This project helps teens who have both substance use problems and PTSD by bringing together their treatments into one program.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorMEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (nih funded)
Locations1 site (CHARLESTON, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11101391 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Many teens who experience trauma often develop both substance use problems and PTSD, but these issues are usually treated separately. This can be tough on teens and their families and might make it harder to recover from substance use. Our team developed an integrated treatment called Risk Reduction through Family Therapy (RRFT) that has shown promise in reducing both substance use and PTSD symptoms. This new project will test if RRFT can be successfully used in regular outpatient clinics where teens go for substance use treatment. We want to make sure this combined approach works well in real-world settings and can be offered to more young people.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents, typically between 12-20 years old, who are experiencing both substance use problems and PTSD, especially those with a history of traumatic events.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have both co-occurring substance use problems and PTSD, or who fall outside the adolescent age range, would likely not benefit directly from this specific treatment approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to more effective and accessible integrated treatment for teens struggling with both substance use and PTSD, improving their long-term recovery.

How similar studies have performed: A prior randomized controlled trial has already shown that the integrated treatment, RRFT, was effective in reducing substance use and PTSD symptoms compared to standard care.

Where this research is happening

CHARLESTON, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.