If you join the study, these things will happen:
1. You will talk with a researcher over the phone for about 2 hours and then complete a questionnaire on the internet, which takes about 1 hour. You will be asked to answer many questions that are similar to what you answered in previous studies. These questions will be about your personality, your school or work, and your thoughts, feelings and behaviors, including possible drug use, criminal and sexual behaviors. If you prefer, you may meet with a researcher for about 2-3 hours at their office, your home, or another place of your choice to complete the interviews and questionnaires.
2. We will also ask some questions that may help us be able to contact you for future studies. The researchers may call or write to you every few months to keep track of where you are living. You do not have to participate in any future research studies if you don’t want to. If at any time you wish to withdraw consent for this study or future studies, you may do so by calling Dr. Hopfer, the Study Doctor at 303-724-3170.
3. You will be asked about your brother or sister's behavior, if they also participated in previous studies by these same researchers. These same brothers or sisters may have been asked, or will be asked about your behavior.
4. The researchers will study the DNA sample and information collected from you in previous studies of these same researchers.
5. The researchers store the DNA permanently at a lab on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus, and may use it for future studies.
6. The researchers may send some of your information to the National Institutes of Health Repository, and to other scientists, but only WITHOUT YOUR NAME OR OTHER IDENTIFIERS. The National Institutes of Health will store your information permanently. They will give your information (WITHOUT YOUR NAME OR OTHER IDENTIFIERS) to qualified scientists with approved research plans. Those scientists will keep your information secret. They agree never to try to find out who you are. Risk or discomforts you may experience while in this study include:
A break in secrecy. There is a risk that people outside of the research team will see your research information. We will do all that we can to protect your information, but it cannot be guaranteed. You will be asked questions about very private things, like drug use or crimes and we will look at your DNA. We know that it could be bad if the wrong people got that information. We keep information with your name on it under lock and key, or in password-protected computers in secure rooms. Your answers will be identified by code numbers and not by your name. That way you cannot be identified and your information stays secret. We have a Certificate of Confidentiality from the U.S. Government. This Certificate is not an endorsement by the government. But, the researchers can use this Certificate to legally refuse to release information that identifies you, even under a court order or subpoena. Another risk is that someone could learn about your DNA makeup if they got the information from this study. Therefore, we will only release your information WITHOUT YOUR NAME OR OTHER IDENTIFIERS and only to qualified scientists with approved research plans. There is a small chance that you could get embarrassed or nervous during the interview. If that happens the researchers will help you find a counselor or therapist who can discuss those feelings with you. DNA tests can show family relationships (who is related to whom). Therefore, the researchers will not discuss family DNA relationships with you or anyone else. If the researchers in this project find out about current child abuse, they will report it to state agencies. The study may include discomforts or risks that are unknown at this time. Possible benefits of the study:
This study is designed for the researcher to learn more about causes for teenagers’ and young adults’ drug, alcohol and behavior problems. This study is not designed to treat any illness or to improve your health. You will not get any benefit from participating in this research study. You will be paid for being in the study:
You will be paid up to $100 for completing the interview. You will be paid up to $50 for completing the online questionnaire. The largest amount you may earn is $150. The smallest amount you may earn is $25 for a brief 15-minute interview, if you do not want to complete the full interview.
