Understanding how anxiety affects substance use in teenagers
Official title: Developmental Pathophysiology of Adverse Patterns of Substance Use in Adolescents with Anxiety
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11081035 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how anxiety and stress might affect the way teens aged 12 to 20 use substances, like alcohol or drugs, to help find better ways to support young people who are at risk of developing these issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $694,468 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA057312-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11081035 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who exhibit symptoms of anxiety.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the age range of 12 to 20 or those without anxiety symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between anxiety symptoms and patterns of substance use in adolescents aged 12 to 20. By examining biomarkers related to neural connectivity and stress responses, the study aims to identify how these factors contribute to substance use disorders. The approach includes assessing physiological responses during stress tasks and analyzing brain activity to better understand the underlying mechanisms. The goal is to develop targeted interventions that can help prevent substance use in at-risk youth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective prevention strategies for substance use disorders in adolescents with anxiety.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the links between anxiety and substance use, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Belger, Aysenil — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Belger, Aysenil
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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.