Study of Trauma, Addiction, and Recovery (STAR) Lab

Housed within the Division of Prevention and Community Research, the Study of Trauma, Addiction, and Recovery (STAR) Lab is dedicated to understanding how trauma and emotional processes influence substance use in people’s real-world, daily lives.

Our research focuses on individuals who have experienced trauma, with a particular emphasis on those living with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders. These individuals often face more severe emotional and behavioral challenges, including greater functional impairment, more intense PTSD symptoms, and more harmful patterns of substance use.

In the STAR Lab, we use a combination of real-time, self-reported and sensor-based data to explore how emotions unfold throughout the day- and how these emotional patterns may increase risk for substance use. Through this, our goal is to uncover new insights into the emotional roots of addiction and recovery.

Through this work, we aim to inform more responsive, real-world interventions and promote long-term wellness in trauma-exposed communities.