Job insecurity and alcohol and drug use in U.S. adults
Employment Insecurity and Substance Use in U.S. Adults
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-11323583
This project looks at how losing a job or being underemployed changes alcohol and drug use among U.S. adults, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11323583 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers will analyze existing U.S. survey data collected over time to track when people move into unemployment or underemployment and whether substance use changes afterward. The work includes both job loss and reduced work hours, and compares different groups by age, race/ethnicity, income, and region to see who is most affected. The team uses more frequent timing than typical national surveys to pinpoint short-term and longer-term effects and to examine how community-level factors may buffer or amplify those effects. Findings are intended to inform policies and targeted supports to reduce substance use linked to job instability.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: U.S. adults aged 21 and older who have experienced unemployment or underemployment, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not a fit: People younger than 21, those living outside the United States, or individuals whose substance use is unrelated to employment stress may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help target job, financial, and treatment supports to prevent increases in alcohol and drug use after job loss.
How similar studies have performed: Prior cross-sectional studies show links between employment insecurity and substance use, but prospective and causal evidence is mixed, so this longitudinal secondary analysis is relatively novel in its focus on timing and subgroup differences.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LEE, JUNGEUN OLIVIA — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Study coordinator: LEE, JUNGEUN OLIVIA
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 below.