# Developing a mobile-health intervention to reduce problematic alcohol use in young adults with ADHD

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2021 · $174,238

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Dr. Traci Kennedy, PI of the proposed K23, is a clinical scientist whose long-term goal is to lead a program of
research on developing and testing interventions to reduce problematic alcohol use among vulnerable young
people, especially young adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Problematic alcohol use
among young adults (ages 18-25) has severe individual and societal consequences, yet most go untreated.
ADHD significantly elevates risk and limits the effectiveness of existing treatments. Inhibitory control is a key
transdiagnostic and modifiable risk factor underlying both ADHD and problematic alcohol use. This K23 project
aims to develop and test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a novel, accessible mobile-health (mHealth)
intervention that targets in-the-moment inhibitory control to reduce problematic drinking among young adults with
ADHD. Text messages will prompt the use of behavioral strategies to enhance inhibitory control throughout the
day and in high-risk moments. To motivate behavioral strategy use, ecological momentary assessment (EMA)
of ADHD symptoms and personalized, adaptive feedback will boost self-awareness of inhibitory control deficits.
Aim 1 is to develop feasible and acceptable behavioral strategy prompts. First, strategy content will be developed
in a subsample (n=10) of young adult drinkers with ADHD from an in-progress pilot study (Study 1a). Next,
strategy prompt content and delivery timing and frequency will be refined in a new pilot sample (n=16) of young
adults with ADHD who consume 4+/5+ drinks/occasion (female/male) weekly (i.e., heavy episodic drinkers) with
input from a panel of key stakeholders (Study 1b). Aim 2 is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the
resulting intervention among heavy episodic drinkers (N=70) with ADHD, half randomly assigned to the
intervention and half to an alcohol monitoring control condition for 3 weeks (Study 2). The utility of passively
sensed smartphone indices of inhibitory control (e.g., screen unlock rate) will be explored to inform future
personalization. Aim 3 is to test preliminary intervention effects, including dynamic transactions among alcohol
use, inhibitory control, and life impairments. This innovative, scalable intervention addresses a critical need to
help young adults with ADHD curb problematic alcohol use. Outcomes will lead to a future fully-powered efficacy
trial. The proposed research and training (didactics, conferences, mentor-directed training) will equip the PI with
the requisite skills to launch an independent research career in alcohol interventions: competence in momentary
drinking capture; expertise in intervention science focused on mHealth; and in-depth knowledge of inhibitory
control. Dr. Sarah Pedersen (mentor), expert in momentary drinking processes, EMA, and inhibitory control, and
Dr. Brooke Molina (co-mentor), expert in intervention science with emphasis on ADHD and addictions, w...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10187746
- **Project number:** 1K23AA029133-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Traci M. Kennedy
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $174,238
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10187746

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10187746, Developing a mobile-health intervention to reduce problematic alcohol use in young adults with ADHD (1K23AA029133-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10187746. Licensed CC0.

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