Adolescence is when most substance use problems begin—and when the right help changes the most. We study how those problems develop and what actually works to treat them.
What we study
Why do some teens develop problems and others don't?
We follow young people through their ordinary days, capturing use, mood, and craving as they happen rather than asking people to remember weeks later.
Related work
Real-time monitoring by phone
Psychophysiology
Minority stress and craving
Can medication help young people cut back?
Almost every addiction medication was tested in adults. We are one of a handful of teams anywhere testing whether they help adolescents — and how, and for whom.
Related work
Topiramate and cannabis use
Lamotrigine and alcohol use
Atomoxetine and alcohol usePsychophysiology
Can a phone deliver real treatment?
Most teens who need care never get it. We build and test digital programs for teens and parents to find out where they match a clinic and where they fall short.
Related work
App for teens and parents
Digital platform for alcohol care
Young adults and opioid risk
Who gets left out, and why?
Some young people face far steeper barriers to care. We study why, and how treatment can be built to reach them.
Related work
LGBTQ+ youth and alcohol
Justice-involved youth
Access and treatment equity
How we work
Our studies run out of Brown's Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies and alongside the clinical program at Bradley Vista—so research questions come from the clinic, and findings return to it.