How early alcohol exposure affects stress and anxiety in young people
Official title: Adolescent/young adult alcohol exposure and subsequent vulnerability to stress induced anxiety
Funded at Durham VA Medical Center · NIH-11074113 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how drinking alcohol during the teenage years, especially before age 14, can lead to anxiety and other mental health problems later on, and it aims to help find better ways to prevent and treat these issues for young people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Durham VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2BX006152-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11074113 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adolescents and young adults who have a history of binge drinking or alcohol exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not engaged in any form of alcohol consumption during adolescence may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of adolescent alcohol exposure on the development of stress-induced anxiety. It focuses on understanding how heavy drinking during adolescence, particularly before age 14, can lead to long-term mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The study utilizes both human and animal models to explore the biological and behavioral consequences of early alcohol use, aiming to uncover the mechanisms that link alcohol exposure to increased vulnerability to stress. By examining these relationships, the research seeks to inform better prevention and treatment strategies for affected individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions for young people at risk of developing anxiety and other mental health disorders due to early alcohol exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that early alcohol exposure can have lasting effects on mental health, indicating that this research builds on established findings in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Durham VA Medical Center
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Healey, Kati Lynn — Durham VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Healey, Kati Lynn
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Doula support to improve mood and anxiety health for rural mothers
A rural-focused program tests whether birth doulas can boost confidence, support, and maternal health for new mothers with mood and anxiety concerns.
-
Understanding how heavy drinking and anxiety relate in emerging adults
This grant studies how heavy alcohol use and anxiety symptoms interact in young adults (ages 18–34) and what biological stress markers might reveal about that relationship.
-
Molecular and brain circuits linked to anxiety disorders
A researcher is studying a specific brain circuit to understand what drives anxiety and how it could be treated for people with anxiety disorders.
-
Expressive Writing to Help Sexual Minority Veterans with Depression and Anxiety
A brief writing program to help sexual minority veterans feel less depression and anxiety.
-
Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy for Veterans with Social Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms
A clinical trial tests whether a flexible brain-behavior therapy helps veterans with social anxiety and PTSD symptoms feel better and engage more in daily life.
-
How parents' emotions shape young children's anxiety
This project explores how parents' moment-by-moment emotions and bodily signals shape anxiety in children from infancy through age 11.
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.