Sleep problems and opioid use after adolescent surgery
Official title: Sleep deficiency and opioid use/misuse in adolescents following surgery
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11406197 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how sleep problems after surgery may influence whether teens start using prescribed opioids in risky ways.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $596,776 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166337-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406197 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents undergoing surgery who are prescribed opioids postoperatively and experience sleep disturbances.
✕Less likely to help
Teens without sleep problems or those not prescribed opioids after surgery may have less direct benefit.
What this research studies
After adolescent surgery, sleep problems may contribute to opioid misuse. The study aims to identify which sleep issues and related factors are most linked to early misuse and to understand the behavioral and psychological mechanisms involved. Using data from Stanford, researchers will examine how perioperative sleep disturbances relate to opioid use and test potential pathways such as pain and mood. The goal is to identify opportunities for early intervention to reduce misuse risk in teens recovering from surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to strategies that prevent opioid misuse in teens after surgery by addressing sleep health.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work shows a link between sleep problems and opioid use, but deeper, mechanism-focused studies are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Groenewald, Cornelius Botha — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Groenewald, Cornelius Botha
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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.