In the current study, we will recruit individuals using addictive drugs (cocaine, cannabis, opioids, or methamphetamine) and non-drug use control individuals. The study participants will fill out questionnaires, consent, and donate samples (urine, saliva, nasal swab, and blood). These samples will be used to study the causes of unhealthy conditions during drug uses. Our goal is to prevent or treat the drug-associated unhealthy conditions (i.e., anxiety, memory impairment).

This study aims to better understand the experiences and perspectives of people with opioid use disorder (OUD) who have recently been hospitalized for a medical condition. Participants will complete a brief, confidential survey about their views on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including barriers to starting treatment, factors that support treatment decisions, and what information they find most helpful. Individuals who meet eligibility criteria will be invited to participate. The information collected will help identify what patients need and prefer when making decisions about MOUD during a hospital stay. Findings from this study will guide the design of a future intervention that reflects patient identified needs and priorities.

This study examines how parents and adolescents communicate about alcohol and marijuana during mid-to-late adolescence, a period marked by rising substance use risk. Although many parents want to reduce harm, they often receive unclear guidance, and what parents intend to convey may not align with what adolescents perceive. Building on prior work showing that alcohol-specific communication is multidimensional and meaningfully linked to youth drinking outcomes, this study surveys parent–adolescent dyads (ages 15–18) to assess the content, frequency, and perception of substance-related conversations. The study also extends prior research by directly comparing parent and youth reports to identify alignment and discrepancies in communication. In addition, it addresses a major gap by characterizing marijuana-specific parental communication, which remains understudied despite increasing adolescent use. Finally, the study tests whether parents' trauma histories, particularly trauma involving substance use, shape how and what parents communicate to their children about alcohol and marijuana.

This study will examine sex differences in the effects of cannabis in people that regularly use it. Men and women that use cannabis at least 4 days a week will participate in a study involving 1-3 in-person visits. The first visit will be used to determine eligibility for the study and will include a blood draw for genetic testing. Most participants will only complete the first visit. Participants that are eligible for the second part of the study will complete two additional visits. These two visits will last 7 hours each and take place at least two days apart. Visits include administration of either THC, the chemical responsible for many of the psychoactive effects of cannabis, or a placebo; completion of questionnaires; repeated blood draws; and a 1-hour brain scan.

Many people use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes (dual use) and want to quit both. However, little is known about the best way to support individuals who want to quit dual use. This study will test different doses of nicotine replacement therapy (patches and lozenges), a medication typically used for quitting smoking, to see which dose is best for people using both cigarettes and e-cigarettes. This study will also see if quitting cigarettes and e-cigarettes can lead to changes in health that might prevent cancer.

Quantitative survey of certain substances of abuse in the adolescent and young adult population of SC. Survey study will be focused on substances of abuse that are easily accessible at a gas station due to little to no regulations or excessive amounts available in various forms such as Kratom, 7-OH, Tia, nicotine pouches, THC, etc.

This study focuses on adolescents who experience both substance use problems and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which often occur together and can seriously impact mental health, school performance, and relationships if left untreated. The goal is to evaluate a trauma-focused treatment called Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders for Adolescents (COPE-A), which is designed to address both conditions at the same time. Earlier pilot studies showed that COPE-A is safe, feasible, and effective in reducing substance use and PTSD symptoms compared to a supportive counseling approach.

In this larger study, 120 adolescents from across the U.S. will receive treatment through telehealth. Researchers will compare COPE-A to person-centered therapy to see which leads to greater improvements in substance use and PTSD symptoms. The study will also examine effects on depression, HIV risk behaviors, relationships, and overall quality of life, while using brief daily surveys to track changes over time.

Co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) disproportionately affects Veterans and has significant negative impacts on the safety, wellbeing, and quality of life of Veterans, their romantic partners, and their families. However, treatments that address co-occurring PTSD-AUD and restore Veterans' psychosocial functioning are lacking. The overall goal of this project is to improve treatment approaches aimed at reducing symptoms of co-occurring PTSD-AUD and improving functioning among Veterans and their partners. We plan to do this by learning from Veterans, family members, and treatment providers in order to inform an adaptation of a brief dyadic AUD intervention to be delivered alongside integrated PTSD-AUD treatment for Veteran couples and then conducting a pilot trial of an adapted Brief Family Involved Treatment (B-FIT) intervention with Veterans with PTSD-AUD and their romantic partners.

This project aims to identify and evaluate internal barriers that inhibit engagement with pharmacological treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Participants, consisting of adults diagnosed with OUD, will complete a series of surveys that will take approximately 30 minutes. In conducting this study, investigators intend to identify barriers that could be improved by future interventions.

This study will examine sex differences in how the brain processes reward in people that regularly use cannabis. Men and women that use cannabis at least 4 days a week will participate in a study involving 3 in-person visits. The first visit will be used to determine eligibility for the study. The other two visits will last 7 hours each and take place at least two days apart. Visits include administration of either THC, the chemical responsible for many of the psychoactive effects of cannabis, or a placebo; completion of questionnaires; and a 1-hour brain scan. One visit will also include a blood draw for genetic testing.