How alcohol, cannabis, and misused stimulant medications affect college students' sleep and grades

Modeling weekly and daily processes of a high-risk feedback cycle of alcohol, cannabis, and nonmedical use of prescription stimulants in college students: Impacts on use, academics, and sleep

NIH-funded research University of Washington · NIH-11327248

This project looks at how weekly and daily changes in drinking, marijuana, and misusing prescription stimulants relate to sleep problems and school performance in college students.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Washington NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project IDNIH-11327248 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would complete short daily and weekly surveys across an academic quarter about alcohol, cannabis, nonmedical use of prescription stimulants, caffeine, sleep, class attendance, and academic stress. Researchers will use intensive day-to-day and week-to-week tracking to see how problems in one area (for example, poor sleep or skipped classes) can lead to increases in substance use or stimulant misuse, and how those behaviors then affect sleep and grades. The goal is to map high-risk feedback cycles so researchers can spot when students are most likely to escalate risky behaviors. The findings will be used to guide timing and targets for prevention or support services on campus.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are college students (typically age 18 and older) who use alcohol, cannabis, or prescription stimulants (medically or nonmedically), or who are experiencing sleep or academic difficulties.

Not a fit: People who are not college students, are much younger or older than typical undergraduates, or who do not use substances and have stable sleep and grades may not benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify when and how to intervene to reduce substance misuse and protect students' sleep and academic success.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research has shown links between stimulant misuse, alcohol, cannabis, sleep problems, and lower GPA, but intensive daily and weekly tracking of these feedback cycles is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

Seattle, 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.
Conditions Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
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.