The expanding recreational legality of cannabis across the United States has resulted in an increase in the potency of cannabis products offered, yielding conversation surrounding its potential impact on cannabis use disorder (CUD) incidence. A systematic review of 7 eligible publications was conducted to determine the role of cannabis potency or quantity of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) consumed as potential risk factors for cannabis use disorder. Two databases (PubMed, APA PsycInfo) were utilized to identify eligible publications, inclusion criteria consisting of cross-sectional or longitudinal studies examining THC potency or frequency with CUD risk published after June 2013 and last searched on June 17th 2026. Results indicate significant associations between high quantity or high potency THC products and increased CUD symptoms and severity. The studies varied in usage of the DSM-5 diagnostic criterion for CUD to identify changes in risk for CUD, therefore application of data to CUD onset and diagnosis is limited. Across the publications participants struggled to identify the potency of the products being consumed, as well as reporting frequent use of high potency products contradicting prior theories on infrequent high potency use, encouraging future research in the role of potency and frequency in CUD risk.

Recovery is often measured through abstinence, symptom reduction, and other clinical outcomes that may not fully capture the complexity of long-term recovery. While these indicators remain important, they can overlook the personal growth, identity transformation, and skill development that many individuals describe as central to their recovery journey. The present study addresses this gap in the literature by introducing a novel measure, the Inventory for Addiction, Recovery, Identity, Skills, and Enhancement (I-ARISE). Drawing on domains identified by individuals with lived experiences through qualitative interviews, the I-ARISE offers a comprehensive understanding of recovery experiences across domains such as commitment to recovery, clarifying purpose for recovery, quality engagement in interpersonal relationships, development of intrapersonal skills, and engaging in meaningful activities. Data from 593 adults in recovery were used to evaluate the underlying factor structure of the I-ARISE. Results indicate that the developed items fit a nine-factor model well. Further, all of the nine factors, except awareness of triggers, are positively correlated with indices of well-being (i.e., subjective vitality, life satisfaction) and negatively correlated with indices of ill-being (i.e., depression, anxiety). The findings support the I-ARISE as a promising recovery-oriented assessment tool that captures strengths-based dimensions of recovery often overlooked by traditional measures. These findings are discussed within the context of the wider literature on recovery as well as future directions for work using the I-ARISE.

As research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) continues to expand, growing evidence shows that children in these households are at a higher risk for developmental, behavioral, and health issues. Given that approximately one in four U.S. children lives with a caregiver affected by a substance use disorder, and that alcohol misuse poses distinct risks for repeated harm, there remains a critical need to clarify how these exposures operate and which protective factors may disrupt their impact. Resilience has been a particular focus for developmental researchers due to its capacity to help individuals adapt positively despite early adversity, reducing the likelihood of negative outcomes associated with ACEs. This study aims to understand how early adversity and resilience contribute to patterns of substance use and quality of life. We hypothesize that resilience will serve as a moderating protective factor, buffering these relationships and predicting lower alcohol use and higher quality of life. To evaluate the hypothesis, 150 participants aged 18+ will complete validated measures that will allow us to examine both risk pathways and the potential protective role of resilience. Findings are expected to inform evidence-based interventions and support systems at the individual, family, and community levels, ultimately promoting healthier developmental outcomes among individuals exposed to early adversity.

School-based delinquency and safety-related outcomes offer an important lens for studying adolescent behavior, risk exposure, and safety in schools (Irwin et al., 2023). Using data from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the current analysis examines how risk and protective factors are associated with three school-based outcomes among high school students: weapon carrying at school, physical fighting at school, and missing school because of feeling unsafe. Risk-related variables include bullying victimization and alcohol use, while protective variables include school connectedness and parental monitoring. Prior research links bullying victimization and alcohol use to adolescent violence, weapon carrying, substance use, and other health-risk behaviors (Baiden et al., 2021; Hertz et al., 2015; Raymond et al., 2023; van Geel et al., 2014), while school connectedness and parental monitoring have been associated with lower prevalence of multiple negative outcomes (Dittus et al., 2023; Wilkins et al., 2023). Logistic regression models will examine direct associations between risk/protective factors and each outcome, as well as moderation effects testing whether school connectedness and parental monitoring weaken the associations between risk exposure and school-based outcomes. By examining risk and protection together, findings may inform school-based prevention efforts targeting student safety, supervision, and connectedness.