Understanding how adolescence problems with alcohol and behavior change as young adults grow up
Official title: Adult Progression of Adolescent Onset Substance Use Disorder in a High Risk Sample
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11332667 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study follows people who had adolescent substance use and behavioral problems into middle adulthood to see what factors help or hinder continued issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $623,787 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA053693-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332667 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals who were adolescents with problematic substance use and antisocial behavior at study start and are now transitioning into middle adulthood.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of adolescent-onset substance use or related behaviors are not the target of this follow-up.
What this research studies
We will track a group of individuals first recruited as adolescents to see how their substance use and antisocial behaviors change as they reach middle age. The research uses a fourth follow-up, about 18 years later, to identify risk factors like age of onset, gender, history of maltreatment, cognitive traits, and genetic risks that influence who continues or desists from problem use and behavior. We will also examine protective factors that might help individuals move toward healthier trajectories. The team will analyze how these elements interact, including potential mediation by impulsivity and other personality traits. This work could reveal targets for prevention and intervention that support long-term recovery and safety.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: findings could inform prevention and treatment strategies to reduce long-term harm from adolescent-onset substance use and antisocial behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Other long-term follow-ups have shown that early factors and protective elements can predict later trajectories, supporting the value of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hopfer, Christian J — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Hopfer, Christian J
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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.