Sibling social influences on teen and young adult drinking and drug use
Official title: Sibling Socialization of Alcohol and Drug Use from Adolescence through Early Adulthood
Funded at Utah State University · NIH-11297488 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Young people’s choices about drinking and drug use are shaped by their brothers and sisters, not just their own peers or genetics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Logan, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2017 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $684,347 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AA025331-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11297488 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adolescents and young adults with siblings who are willing to participate and share information about family relationships and substance use.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without siblings or those not in the target age range may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how older and younger siblings influence each other’s substance use from adolescence into early adulthood. It uses data that consider family relationships and genetics to better understand social influence within families. The study aims to uncover the tiny and large ways siblings affect each other’s decisions about alcohol and drugs during the transition to adulthood. Findings could guide family-based approaches to reduce risky substance use. The work is grounded in real-life family dynamics and supported by a large university research program at Utah State University.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform family-centered prevention and intervention strategies to help youths delay or reduce risky substance use.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows siblings influence substance use, but this project seeks deeper mechanistic understanding across adolescence to early adulthood.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State University
Logan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Whiteman, Shawn David — Utah State University
- Study coordinator: Whiteman, Shawn David
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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.