Understanding how background, genes, and COVID-19 affect decision-making and substance use in teenagers

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

Many young people start using substances during their teenage years, which can lead to problems later in life. This project aims to understand why some teenagers are more likely to make impulsive decisions, a behavior called "delay discounting," which is linked to substance use. We are using information from a large national group of young people, aged 9 to 17, to explore how their family background, community experiences, genetic makeup, and the COVID-19 pandemic might influence these decisions. By looking at these different factors together, we hope to identify early warning signs and ways to help prevent substance use before it starts.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
  Newark, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Rabinowitz, Jill Alexandra — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
• Study coordinator: Rabinowitz, Jill Alexandra

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

• Understanding how adversity, genes, and COVID-19 relate to risky reward choices in teens and young adults

  This project looks at how hardship, genetics, and COVID-19 experiences may influence teens and young adults to prefer immediate rewards, which can lead to later substance use.

  NIH research Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · Newark, UNITED STATES · NIH-11375102

• Using brain development patterns to spot early substance-use risk and COVID-19 effects in kids

  This project uses brain and behavior patterns from children and teens to find who may be more likely to start using substances and how the COVID-19 pandemic changed their brain development.

  NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11261143

• How HIV and COVID medicines and substance use can harm the liver

  Researchers are looking at how common HIV and COVID-19 antiviral drugs, especially when combined with alcohol or other substance use, can damage the liver in people with these viral infections.

  NIH research University of Southern California · Los Angeles, UNITED STATES · NIH-11258056

• Understanding how COVID-19 affects brain development and substance use risk in children and adolescents

  This study is looking at how starting to use substances at a young age affects brain development and how the COVID-19 pandemic might change that, so we can better understand what makes some young people more likely to use substances.

  NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11012911

• Investigating liver damage caused by anti-HIV and anti-COVID-19 drugs and substance use.

  This study is looking at how certain antiviral medications for HIV and COVID-19 might harm the liver, especially in people who also struggle with substance use, like alcohol, to help find safer treatment options for those affected.

  NIH research University of Southern California · Los Angeles, UNITED STATES · NIH-11001982

• Exploring how socioeconomic factors, genetics, and COVID-19 affect substance use in adolescents

  This study is looking at how things like financial struggles, genetics, and the effects of COVID-19 might lead teenagers to make risky choices and use substances, so we can find ways to help prevent these issues before they start.

  NIH research Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · Newark, UNITED STATES · NIH-10896989

About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.