Understanding how substance use affects brain development in adolescents

14/21 ABCD-USA Consortium: Research Project Site at CU Boulder

NIH-funded research University of Colorado · NIH-11078275

This study is looking at how using substances like alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco during teenage years affects brain development and mental health, and it's for kids aged 9-10 who will be followed over the years to see how these habits impact them as they grow up.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Colorado NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11078275 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of adolescent substance use, including alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco, on brain development and mental health. It involves a large cohort of children aged 9-10 years who will be followed over several years with regular assessments, including brain imaging and mental health evaluations. The study aims to understand how early substance use and environmental factors may influence neurodevelopment and lead to adverse outcomes. Participants will engage in minimal burden assessments through interviews and mobile monitoring to track their development and behaviors.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 9-10 years, particularly those with varying levels of substance use exposure.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 10 years or do not have any history of substance use may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for substance use and mental health issues in adolescents.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the effects of adolescent substance use on brain development, making this study a continuation of established findings.

Where this research is happening

Boulder, UNITED STATES

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.