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Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder in Young Adults

This study is looking at how impulsivity and your body's response to alcohol are connected in young adults, which could help create better ways to prevent and treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). You might receive either a placebo (saline) or alcohol intravenously (through a vein) during the study. Researchers will measure your subjective response (how you feel) to alcohol and your breath alcohol concentration (BrAC). To join, you need to be 21-25 years old, drink alcohol at least twice a week, and have had a blood alcohol level over 0.08% at least once in the past month. The study aims to understand these connections to find new targets for treatment. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 250 participants. It involves receiving either a placebo or alcohol intravenously.
What's involved
You would receive either saline or alcohol intravenously. In one session, you would also have the chance to self-administer saline or alcohol for 60 minutes.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your subjective response to alcohol will be measured at 70 minutes and again after 10 days. Your breath alcohol concentration will be measured for 60 minutes.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05929677

Impulsivity Domains and Subjective Response

Recruiting
EARLY_PHASE1Ages 21–25InterventionalBasic science
Jessica Weafer
~250 participants
Updated 2026-05-22 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:PlaceboAlcohol

At a glance

Recruiting sites
2 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Lab Subjective Response to Alcohol (SR)
Measured over 70 minutes
+4 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder

Explore related trials

Alcohol use disorder

Where it's being run

2 sites across 2 states
Massachusetts1
Ohio1

Study leadership

  • Jessica Weafer, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Ohio State University

Who to contact

Jessica Weafer, PhD
[email protected]
614-257-2075
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

21-25 years old
Report drinking to an estimated BAC \> .08% at least once in the past 30 days based on responses on the Timeline Followback (TLFB)
Report drinking at least twice weekly in the past 30 days based on responses on the TLFB
Fluency in English

Exclusion

Any serious medical problems (e.g., liver disease, cardiac abnormality, pancreatitis, diabetes, neurological problems, and gastrointestinal disorders)
Body weight \< 110 or \> 210 pounds
Axis I psychiatric disorders including substance use disorder other than mild or moderate alcohol or mild cannabis use disorder
Current alcohol withdrawal or history of medically-assisted detoxification
Two positive breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) readings (i.e., \> 0.00%) at an in-person screening appointment or experimental session
Positive urine screen for illegal drugs other than cannabis
Currently seeking or past-12-month history of inpatient or intensive treatment for addictive behaviors
Current psychotropic medication use or receipt of a prescription for these medications in the past 30 days
Psychosis or other psychiatric disability
Pregnancy, nursing or lack of reliable birth control use for women
Report smoking \> 5 cigarettes per day (to avoid acute nicotine effects or withdrawal during experimental sessions)

What this trial measures

  • Lab Subjective Response to Alcohol (SR)70 minutes

    Participants provide subjective ratings of stimulation and sedation using the Brief Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (scores from 0 to 10 where a higher number means more stimulation/sedation).

  • Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) Subjective Response to Alcohol (SR)10 days

    Participants provide subjective ratings of stimulation and sedation using the Brief Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (scores from 0 to 10 where a higher number means more stimulation/sedation) using the EMA app.

  • Change in Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC)60 minutes

    Highest BrAC in mg% taken by breathalyzer during the free-access period

  • Number of alcohol drink units self administered60 minutes

    participants can self-administer alcohol infusions by pushing 1 of 2 buttons to receive an alcohol or water "drink" unit. Each alcohol "drink" targets a 7.5mg% increase in BrAC over 2.5 min. The water "drink" is an equal volume of saline.

  • Number of drinks per day10 days

    Participants will report the number of drinks they consume each day via EMA app added to their phone.