How early life challenges affect drug use risk in rural children
Official title: Early Adversity and Drug Use Vulnerability Among Low Income Rural Children: Testing a Neuro-ecological Model of Resilience
Funded at University of Georgia · NIH-11233548 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how growing up in low-income rural areas affects children's brain development and their chances of misusing drugs, focusing on kids from rural Georgia and following them from age 7 to see how their environment shapes their thinking and feelings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Georgia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $54,644 |
| NIH project number | 3R01DA055630-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11233548 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are low-income children aged 7 to 11 living in rural Georgia.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not reside in rural areas or are not from low-income backgrounds may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how living in low-income rural areas impacts children's brain development and their risk of drug misuse. It focuses on children from rural Georgia, examining the unique challenges they face compared to urban counterparts. By integrating brain assessments with evaluations of environmental stressors and protective factors, the study aims to understand how these elements influence children's cognitive control and emotional responses. The research will follow children starting at age 7, a critical period for understanding long-term effects on drug use vulnerability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted interventions that help reduce drug use risk among vulnerable rural children.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in understanding the impact of environmental factors on child development, making this approach promising.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Georgia
Athens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oshri, Assaf — University of Georgia
- Study coordinator: Oshri, Assaf
Related research
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How growing up poor in rural Georgia affects children's brains and risk for drug use
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How early life challenges affect drug use risk in rural children
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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.