We study the causes and consequences of substance use, especially among young people. To address this, we conduct research to understand why some people use substances and develop problems related to substance use. We consider multiple aspects of substance use, including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, opioid, and stimulant use, problematic use, and disorder. Our research seeks to understand how using substances, both for recreational purposes and in the context of medication treatments, affects development, behavior, and broader health outcomes. We’re especially interested in adolescents and young adults, but our research explores substance use across the lifespan
Our projects use a variety of research designs, including analyzing longitudinal studies of individuals and families and examining administratively collected healthcare data. We prioritize: (1) large-scale data, (2) rigorous analytic methods, (3) longitudinal analyses, and (4) multiple levels of analysis (including information on the social and physical environment, families, genetics, and behavior), and (5) consideration of racial and ethnic diversity.