Alcohol Use Research Study
Researchers at Northeastern University are conducting a study on how thinking and decision-making relate to how people feel after drinking alcohol.
Fast Facts
Adults ages 21-25 who drink regularly
Have never been in treatment for addictive behaviors
Compensation provided up to $1200
Live in the Boston area
Study Background
How does the brain respond to alcohol, and what makes those responses different from person to person?
The ALARM (Alcohol Lab and Real-world Multimodal) study at Northeastern University is exploring how different ways of thinking and decision making influence how people feel after consuming alcohol. By studying these relationships, researchers aim to better understand what drives alcohol-related behaviors and risk patterns among young adults.
Participants will take part in a mix of lab visits and smartphone-based activities over two years. The research includes questionnaires, interviews, computer tasks, and controlled alcohol administration sessions through an IV line in a lab setting. Together, this information will help researchers learn more about the psychological and biological factors that shape people’s experiences with alcohol.
Study Background
How does the brain respond to alcohol, and what makes those responses different from person to person?
The ALARM (Alcohol Lab and Real-world Multimodal) study at Northeastern University is exploring how different ways of thinking and decision making influence how people feel after consuming alcohol. By studying these relationships, researchers aim to better understand what drives alcohol-related behaviors and risk patterns among young adults.
Participants will take part in a mix of lab visits and smartphone-based activities over two years. The research includes questionnaires, interviews, computer tasks, and controlled alcohol administration sessions through an IV line in a lab setting. Together, this information will help researchers learn more about the psychological and biological factors that shape people’s experiences with alcohol.
Additional Information
This study seeks to understand how impulsivity and decision-making styles influence how people feel after drinking alcohol. The goal is to gain insights that could improve understanding of alcohol use and its effects.
You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adults ages 21-25 who drink regularly (at least 8 times per month)
- Have never been in treatment for addictive behaviors
- Live in the Boston area
- Willing to travel to Northeastern University to participate in a study involving questionnaires, clinical interviews, intravenous alcohol and saline administration, and at-home assessments on your smartphone
- Weigh between 110-210 lbs
- Smoke less than 5 cigarettes per day
- Vape less than 100 puffs per day
If eligible, you’ll attend an initial orientation session followed by three lab sessions where alcohol or saline will be administered through an IV. You’ll also complete seven 11-day assessment periods at home, using a smartphone app to answer brief surveys and tasks a few times per day. All lab visits take place on the Northeastern University campus in Boston, MA.
Participants will take part in a mix of lab visits and smartphone-based activities over about one month, for which they will be compensated up to $360. There is then an opportunity to earn an additional $800+ over the next two years. The research includes questionnaires, interviews, computer tasks, and controlled alcohol administration through an IV line in a lab setting. Together, this information will help researchers learn more about the psychological and biological factors that shape people’s experiences with alcohol.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.