Dimensional Adversity and Neural Vulnerabilities for Substance Use Among Rural and Non-Rural Adolescents

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PROJECT SUMMARY Youth living in resource-poor rural environments are disproportionately exposed to chronic stress such as violence, parental separation, limited access to health services, and low-quality education. Converging research links exposure to these stressful environments to early-onset substance use, heightened adolescent substance use, and substance use disorders in adulthood. Moreover, emerging research suggests that chronic stress alters development of critical neural systems that are associated with downstream substance use problems. Distinct patterns of dysregulated activity within emotion regulation and reward processing systems have been consistently observed in populations with substance use problems. Despite the ample evidence supporting associations between these neural processes and substance use, studies investigating these patterns in adolescents are few and often under-powered. Additionally, few studies investigating neural vulnerabilities for substance use have considered the effects of dimensions of adversity (e.g., threat and deprivation), which are differentially linked to neural development and behavioral adaptation. As such, the applicant proposes a longitudinal study of the contributions of threatening and depriving experiences within the family and community to development of altered neural function during reward processing and emotion regulation. To do so, the applicant will employ 2 existing multi-wave imaging studies, including a highly powered and diverse national sample (Adolescent Brain & Cognitive Development, or ABCD) and a local sample centered on adolescents within rural communities (Development of Risk & Resilience Among Rural Youth, or DORRY). These samples provide complementary multi-level and multi-modal assessment of the community, family, and adolescent neurocognitive function across both national and targeted populations. Through this research, the applicant aims to inform the development of earlier and more sensitive risk assessments and more targeted methods of prevention among youth at risk for substance use. During the course of the proposed study, the applicant will receive extensive training in advanced statistical methods, neurocognitive foundations of addiction, analysis for neuroimaging findings, and assessment of community risk and parenting. The applicant’s environment is ideal for the proposed study and training plan: the sponsor of the application is a leading researcher in cognitive neuroscience and addiction, while the co-sponsor has extensive experience researching adolescent risk and resilience, chronic stress, and family processes. Moreover, the research is taking place within the UGA Neuroscience Program, which provides extensive support for the applicant in the form of training, coursework, and funding, and the UGA Bio-Imaging Research Center, which houses a state-of-the-art 3T scanner and ample space for data collection and analysis.