Adverse Adolescent Pathways to Substance Use

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, CHAPEL HILL · May 8, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The clinical trial titled "Adverse Adolescent Pathways to Substance Use" is studying how changes in the brain and stress responses during adolescence can affect the relationship between anxiety and the risk of using substances like alcohol or drugs. Researchers are looking for 200 young people aged 12 to 14 who have symptoms of anxiety to participate in this important study. The goal is to better understand how anxiety during these formative years can lead to harmful behaviors.

Eligible participants must be between 12 and 14 years old, able to understand and agree to participate, and should not have used alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana more than three times. Throughout the study, participants will complete questionnaires, undergo brain scans while doing tasks, and have their heart rates monitored during a mild stress test. Caregivers will also provide information through questionnaires. This research is a great opportunity to contribute to understanding adolescent health and may help improve future treatments for anxiety and substance use.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Male or female
• • 12-14 years old,
• • Report symptoms of anxiety
• • Understand and sign an assent, and parents will sign a permission and a consent document in English
• • Meets study hearing and vision requirements
• • Substance use naïve
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Has any foreign metal objects or implants as determined by the safety questionnaires (e.g., bone screws, shunts or body piercing that can't be removed, etc.)
• • Has been diagnosed with psychosis or a severe emotional disturbance.
• • Has used alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana more than 3 times.
• • Is pregnant. Girls who self-report pregnancy may not participate in the stress evaluation or the MRI scan.
• • Is taking any medications that directly alter cardiovascular function (e.g., propranolol or other beta blockers).
• • Any current or lifetime treatment with antipsychotic medication.
• • Has had a head injury that resulted in a loss of consciousness for more than 5 minutes.
• • Is planning to get non-removable metal braces.
• • Impaired intellectual functioning (full-scale intelligence quotient \<70).
• • Past or current history of a clinically significant central nervous system that could confound brain imaging evaluations.