Federal Grant Award Summary

Kaiser Foundation Research Institute received a $681,667 Project Grant award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279), effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2029. The award supports a phased research initiative examining e-cigarette and cannabis co-use among young adults in Hawaii. During the R61 phase, the awardee will conduct epidemiological analysis utilizing data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the Young Adult Health Behavior Survey (YAHB) to identify psychosocial determinants and risk factors driving co-use patterns, with particular emphasis on social influences, community factors, and marketing impacts on initiation, escalation, and maintenance behaviors across the target population ages 18-30.

In the subsequent R33 phase, Kaiser Foundation Research Institute will develop and pilot a Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) delivered via smartphone application to address identified risk factors and intervention needs. The intervention will be calibrated based on epidemiological findings, with particular attention to susceptible populations such as low-income young adults. The research is intended to produce a scalable, evidence-based intervention addressing a significant public health gap, as co-use of e-cigarettes and cannabis among young adults, particularly in geographically distinct regions, remains understudied despite demonstrated associations with substance dependence and adverse health outcomes.