Return to Research Areas at ORI
Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Many Americans have successfully kicked the smoking habit. But there are still many smokers who want to quit. The large majority started smoking in their teens, and third of those will eventually die of a smoking-related illness.
ORI scientists are internationally recognized for their pioneering studies of tobacco use, and its prevention and cessation. For more than 25 years, we have been studying how best to help people quit. ORI scientists have developed behavioral cessation programs for adolescents and for adults, and they were involved in the early trials of the nicotine patch. We have helped hundreds of smokers and smokeless tobacco users to quit.
Our expertise in tobacco cessation is widely called upon, and ORI scientists contributed to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Reports on smoking. Given that most smokers start as adolescents, ORI scientists are now studying ways to prevent young people from taking up tobacco use.
In addition, our scientists are testing programs to treat adolescent substance users to determine which programs are most effective in helping teens stay off drugs.
Current Grants
Family Therapy via Video Teleconference for Substance-Abusing Rural Adolescents (RAFT)
Investigators are working to increase access to evidenced-based treatments among rural youth with substance use disorders and to link youth with needed health services.
Principal Investigators: Tim Ozechowski & Holly Waldron
Co-Investigators: Hy Hops, Janet Brody, & Ed Feil
Project Period: 2/1/12 -- 11/30/15
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Interactive Multimedia Training Program for First Steps to Success Intervention (FS Training II STTR)
Investigators are developing a computer-based interactive program to train behavioral coaches in the implementation of the First Step to Success early intervention program.
Principal Investigator: John Seeley
Co-Investigators: Annemieke Golly & Ed Feil
Project period: 10/1/11 – 7/31/13
Subcontract with Deschutes Research Inc., from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Developing a Decision Support System to Promote Tobacco Counseling by Dentists (Dental DSS)
Researchers are evaluating the adoption, implementation, and maintenance of a technology-assisted tobacco cessation program.
Principal Investigator: Judy Andrews
Project Period: 9/15/11 -- 8/31/13
Subcontract with Columbia University from the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research
Early Intervention for Minors in Possession of Alcohol/Drugs: A Feasibility Study (MAST-1)
Investigators are collaborating with the juvenile justice divisions of Multnomah and Washington counties in Portland, Oregon to evaluate two brief, sustainable interventions for adolescents charged with an initial drug-related offense.
Principal Investigator: Hy Hops
Co-Investigators: Holly Waldron & Tim Ozechowski
Project Period: 7/15/11 -- 6/30/13
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Web and Phone Intervention to Maintain Postpartum Tobacco Abstinence (StayQuit)
This research study will contribute to our knowledge regarding using the Internet to broadly deliver effective smoking relapse prevention interventions targeted to the large, underserved population of postpartum women.
Principal Investigator: Brian Danaher
Co-Investigators: John Seeley & Ed Lichtenstein
Project Period: 6/9/11 - 5/31/14
National Cancer Institute
Oregon Youth Substance Use Project: National Drug Abuse and HIV Data Program (Data Archiving)
Investigators are preparing technical data for archival deposit of drug abuse datasets that have either an HIV/AIDS component or other data determined to be a high priority (i.e. longitudinal, health disparities, co-morbidities).
Principal Investigator: Judy Andrews
Project Period: 2/1/11 - 1/31/12
Subcontract with the University of Michigan from the National Institutes of Health
Building Outcomes with Observation-Based Supervision: An FFT Effectiveness Trial (BOOST)
This is an effectiveness trial of Functional Family Therapy (FFT). Investigators are examining the effects of supervision of therapists in community settings on implementation fidelity, therapist competence, and positive youth outcomes.
Principal Investigators: Michael Robbins & Holly Waldron
Co-Investigators: Hy Hops, Charles Turner, Janet Brody, Tim Ozechowski
Project Period: 9/30/10 - 6/30/15
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Evaluation of an Intranet-Based Alcohol Prevention Program in Middle School (Alcohol Intranet)
The research team is developing and evaluating a computer-based program, implemented as part of the middle school curriculum, to prevent heavy drinking in high school.
Principal Investigator: Judy Andrews
Co-Investigators: Sarah Hampson, Barb Gunn, Judith Gordon (University of Arizona)
Project Period: 9/25/10 - 6/30/15
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Nicotine Lozenges and Assisted Self-Help for Smokeless Tobacco Cessation (Self-Help Lozenge)
Investigators are using a three arm design to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of combining a validated behavioral intervention with a promising Nicotine Replacement Therapy- the Lozenge- compared to either intervention alone.
Principal Investigator: Herb Severson
Co-Investigator: Brian Danaher (Mayo Clinic: Ebbert, Croghan & Trautman)
Project Period: 8/12/10 - 7/31/14
National Cancer Institute
Functional Family Therapy for Adolescent Substance Abuse in Chile (CASA)
This study is designed to evaluate the implementation of an evidence-based family treatment adapted to Chilean cultural customs and practices. The collaborative aspects of this study will foster the development of research capacity in a developing country.
Principal Investigators: Holly Waldron (ORI) & Luis Caris (University of Chile)
Co-Investigators: Hy Hops, Michael Robbins, Charles Turner
Project Period: 7/1/10 - 6/30/13
Fogarty International Center/NIH
Brief Strategic Family Therapy versus Treatment as Usual: Extended Follow-Up for Drug Using Adolescents (BSFT GO ARRA)
The primary goal of this project is to examine the long term effects of outpatient treatments for illicit drug using adolescents.
Principal Investigator: Michael Robbins
Project Period: 9/30/09 - 8/31/12
Subcontract with the University of Miami from National Institute on Drug Abuse
Novel Determinants and Measures of Smokeless Tobacco Use (Novel SLT)
Investigators are examining brands of U.S. smokeless tobacco products' different levels of nitrosamines, other carcinogens, and nicotine, on existing and novel biomarkers of exposure and effect. This study will determine factors that moderate the extent of exposure other than the levels of toxicants. Study 2 will determine the effects of switching ST users to lower levels of TSNA and differing levels of nicotine.
Principal Investigator: Herb Severson
Project Period: 9/9/09 -- 8/31/14
Subcontract with University of Minnesota from National Cancer Institute
Predictors of Change Profiles in Studies of Adolescent Substance Abusers (Profiles)
Researchers are combining data from six adolescent treatment outcome studies to examine predictors of distinct patterns of change.
Principal Investigator: Charles Turner
Co-Investigators: Holly Waldron, Hy Hops (Mike Robbins, University of Miami)
Project Period: 6/1/08 - 4/30/12
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Effectiveness of a Web-Assisted Quitline for Smokeless Tobacco Users (ChewFree II)
Investigators are testing the effectiveness of combining an interactive web-based
smokeless tobacco cessation intervention with the California Tobacco Chewers' Helpline, and will perform an economic analysis to evaluate the relative cost effectiveness of these programs.
Principal Investigator: Herb Severson
Co-Investigators: Brian Danaher, Judy Andrews, Judith Gordon, Ed Lichtenstein
Project Period: 5/8/08 - 2/29/12
National Cancer Institute
Evaluation of Oral Tobacco as a Harm Reduction Method for Smokers (Harm Reduction)
Investigators are examining the palatability and preference of various oral non-combustible tobacco products in cigarette smokers, which will inform the product to be tested in a second study, and which will determine the toxicity of these products compared to cigarettes, and whether or not use of these products will result in significant smoking cessation rates.
Principal Investigator: Herb Severson
Co-Investigator: Judith Gordon
Project Period: 5/1/08 - 2/28/13
Subcontract with the University of Minnesota from National Cancer Institute
Development of a Family-based Treatment for Adolescent Methamphetamine Use (AIMS)
This is a Stage IA/IB treatment development project using an interdisciplinary approach to develop, refine, and pilot test a theoretically grounded intervention for adolescent methamphetamine abuse or dependence.
Principal Investigator: Holly Waldron
Co-Investigators: Charles Turner, Hy Hops & from OHSU: Alexander Stevens & Suzanne Mitchell
Project Period: 9/1/07 - 5/31/12
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Adolescent Substance Abuse: Progressive Treatment (Adapt)
In two studies, researchers are examining the efficacy of eight potential adaptive treatment strategies using the Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) design to determine which of two stepped adaptive interventions result in better treatment outcomes.
Principal Investigator: Holly Waldron
Co-Investigators: Hy Hops, Janet Brody, Tim Ozechowski, & Charles Turner
Project Period: 8/15/07 - 5/31/12
National Institute on Drug Abuse
QuitSpit: An Internet-Based ST Cessation Program for Teens (QuitSpit)
A randomized controlled trial to develop and evaluate an online smokeless tobacco cessation program targeted to teens and young adults.
Principal Investigators: Herbert H. Severson & Brian G. DanaherCo-Investigators: Judy A. Andrews, Edward Lichtenstein
Project Period: 8/10/06 - 5/31/12
National Cancer Institute