Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Medical University of South Carolina received a $675,129 Project Grant award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) for research spanning April 1, 2026, through January 31, 2031. This award supports the development and evaluation of Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders using Prolonged Exposure for Adolescents (COPE-A), an integrated, trauma-focused intervention designed to address the critical gap in effective treatments for adolescents with co-occurring substance use disorders (SUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research builds upon preliminary Stage IA safety and feasibility studies demonstrating significant pre- to post-treatment reductions in both SUD and PTSD symptoms, as well as Stage IB pilot randomized controlled trial data.

The primary deliverable is a rigorous clinical research study that adapts evidence-based adult SUD/PTSD treatments to address the unique developmental needs of adolescents with these co-occurring conditions. This research directly addresses the clinical consensus that comorbid SUD/PTSD among adolescents represents a significant unmet treatment need, with approximately 35% of the 9% of adolescents meeting SUD criteria also meeting PTSD criteria. By conducting this translational research at MUSC's Charleston, South Carolina facility, the project aims to generate efficacy data that can prevent the cyclical relationship between substance use and trauma that perpetuates chronic illness and associated complications including depression, suicidal ideation, HIV-related risk behaviors, and academic dysfunction in this vulnerable adolescent population.