Life stress, substance use, and justice involvement across adolescence to adulthood
Official title: Life stress exposures, substance use, and justice system involvement from adolescence to adulthood: Identifying protective factors in a US national cohort study
Funded at Public Health Institute · NIH-11367929 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national study follows people from adolescence into adulthood to understand how stress and drug use relate to later involvement with the justice system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Public Health Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $400,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059036-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367929 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with a history of life stress exposure, substance use, or justice involvement who can contribute to or be impacted by understanding these trajectories.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without a history of stress exposure or substance use may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project analyzes existing data from a large national study to see how life stress and substance use unfold from adolescence into adulthood and whether these patterns differ by demographic groups. It will look at how early life experiences and ongoing stress may influence cannabis and other drug use and potential pathways to incarceration. By using a socioecological lens, researchers are seeking to identify protective factors that could reduce risk and inform prevention efforts. The work is based on secondary analysis of Add Health data, focusing on a developmental period called emerging adulthood. The findings could point to critical moments and interventions to support healthier trajectories.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could highlight protective factors and intervention opportunities to reduce substance misuse and justice involvement.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown links between stress, substance use, and criminal justice involvement, but this study adds a sociodemographic and developmental perspective using a large national dataset.
Where this research is happening
-
Public Health Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tam, Christina — Public Health Institute
- Study coordinator: Tam, Christina
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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.