Why Teens and Young Adults Need Different Approaches

Brain development can vary by individual, but for some, it takes well into the 20s before the brain reaches full maturity. If counselors are going to work with younger people, they need to understand how everything from impulse control to physical changes govern the decisions they make.

When people are young, they’re more likely to engage in riskier behaviors, which can lead to:

• Legal problems, physical injuries, and unhealthy behaviors.
• Long-term addiction if patterns are allowed to continue

There’s a very delicate balance that these trials have to strike: teens and young adults are primed to seek independence during this time. This doesn’t just mean that they rebel against what’s around them, it means that they may feel completely out of control when it comes to maintaining their autonomy. This may explain why it’s unusual for intervention to work on the first time around.

What Do Youth Addiction Trials Study?

It depends on the study, but they usually dive into:

• Family-based treatments: Treating everyone, including caregivers, with therapy and helping them develop better communication skills.
• School- or campus-linked programs: Helping students link up with counselors or peer support. .
• Digital and app-based interventions: Apps designed specifically for younger users, often focusing on brief check-ins and motivational support.
• Medication trials: Medication designed to limit craving, usually used for opioid use disorder in teens, and combined with age-appropriate counseling.
• Harm reduction and safety-focused programs: Strategies to limit overdose risk, impaired driving, and safer decision-making.

Some trials target specific substances, such as opioids, alcohol, nicotine, or cannabis. Others focus on multiple substances or general risky behavior.

How Participation Works for Minors vs. Adults

People under 18 may require:

• A parent or legal guardian to give permission.
• Willing consent from the participant.

Rules for people under 18 can vary by region, so it’s important to look into everything from privacy to consent laws. In general, though, it helps to get everyone on board before enrolling a minor in a study. This way, there’s less tension on either side.

For young adults over 18, consent is typically their decision, but involving trusted family or supporters often helps. However, it may also be court-mandated, depending on the circumstances.

Potential Benefits and Risks

Possible benefits of youth-focused trials include:

• Access to age-tailored treatments and programs
• Regular check-ins and monitoring
• Structured support around school, work, or relationships
• Opportunities to learn skills that support long-term health

Risks or challenges can include:

• Time demands for visits or online sessions
• Emotional stress when discussing substance use and related events
• Side effects if medications are used
• Family tensions, especially if there’s already a lot of pre-existing conflict

For the most part, it’s preferable to look at trials as a mitigation strategy. For example, emotional stress may occur due to a clinical study, but far more emotional stress is likely to occur if nothing is done about the addiction.

How Families Can Evaluate a Trial

Before you enroll, here are a few questions to evaluate the program:

• Who is running it? Academic medical centers, children’s hospitals, and reputable clinics tend to have more safeguards and protections.
• What treatments are used? Ask whether they are evidence-based or experimental, and what is known so far. Ask about the success rates if medications are involved and what the side effects could be.
• How will this impact school or work? Check how visits or treatment schedules fit into your daily schedule, and what can be done to accommodate treatments. .
• What support is available in a crisis? Gauge how staff handle everything from mental health crises to overdose risk.

If you feel comfortable, discuss these questions with your child’s primary care clinician, school counselor, or another trusted professional:

• How is this trial designed specifically for teens or young adults?
• What will my child (or I) actually do at every step?
• How will you protect my child’s privacy while keeping caregivers appropriately informed?
• What happens if we decide to stop participating?
• What type of support, if any, can we receive after the study ends?

No matter what you choose to do about a substance abuse problem, it’s important to do something. Clinical trials are one pathway to that support and may help shape better treatments for future generations of teens and young adults.