# Effects of cannabis use on community-based alcohol treatment outcomes in adolescents

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA · 2024 · $197,262

## Abstract

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.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11054894
- **Project number:** 1K23AA031517-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrea M. Wycoff
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $197,262
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-20 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11054894

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11054894, Effects of cannabis use on community-based alcohol treatment outcomes in adolescents (1K23AA031517-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11054894. Licensed CC0.

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