Friday, June 6, 2025
6/6/2025
Effects of cannabis use on community-based alcohol treatment outcomes in adolescents - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Most (60-90%) adolescents in treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) also have a co-occurring psychiatric disorder (COD) other than substance use, and adolescents with AUD+CODs have worse treatment outcomes compared to those with only AUD. Among adolescents seeking treatment for AUD+CODs, over 80% also use cannabis. The adult AUD treatment literature demonstrates worse alcohol-related treatment outcomes for individuals who used cannabis during AUD treatment, but similar information is missing regarding how cannabis use might influence AUD+COD treatment processes. Consistent with NIAAA’s strategic plan to improve treatment for AUD+CODs, this K23 proposal aims to fill a critical gap in understanding how cannabis use affects AUD+COD treatment outcomes among adolescents in community-based treatment. Understanding whether, for whom, in what contexts, and how cannabis use relates to treatment processes and AUD+COD outcomes in real-world community-based treatment will inform viable and meaningful cannabis-related intervention targets for adolescent AUD+COD treatment. This K23 will use mixed methods to inform how cannabis use relates to AUD+COD treatment processes and outcomes. Participants will be recruited from community-based intensive outpatient programs for AUD+CODs who also use cannabis. Aim 1a will use qualitative interviews (N=25) to explore adolescents’ perspectives on their cannabis use in the context of AUD+COD treatment. Aim 1b will use an open pilot ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study (N=5) to solicit feedback and refine the Aim 2 protocol. Aim 2 will use 21 days of EMA during treatment plus longitudinal follow-up surveys at 0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-months post-intensive outpatient treatment (N=90) to understand the dynamics of how AUD+COD processes unfold when adolescents are using cannabis in their natural environments. Results will shed light on how cannabis use affects AUD+COD treatment among adolescents with AUD+CODs and identify productive treatment targets that prioritize adolescents’ lived experiences and are relevant in community-based care. Results will also inform models of addressing polysubstance use in treatment more broadly, which is prevalent in community-based care but largely neglected in clinical trials. This K23 leverages the candidate’s expertise using EMA and multilevel modeling to study alcohol-cannabis co-use while providing needed training in qualitative and mixed methods research, developmentally informed research on adolescents in the context of community-based treatment, advanced structural equation modeling, and professional development, to launch a successful NIAAA-funded clinical research career advancing adolescent addiction science and community-based treatment. A mentorship team with unique and complementary areas of expertise are committed to the candidate’s research and training.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).