This is a CONFIDENTIAL research study about teen health and happiness. Students take a confidential survey during class twice a year (one in the fall and once in the spring) from 9th through 12th grade. Surveys focus on teen health and their attitudes and opinions about a wide variety of topics such as social media, causes of stress, school environment, and opinions on nicotine and cannabis use. The survey takes about 30 minutes to complete. Surveys are anonymous and results are aggregated before sharing. Results help schools and communities better understand and support young people. Participation is voluntary; you or your child can decide to stop being in the study any time.

Several (n=8) public high schools in Southern California are participating in study. The survey is administered by USC staff in the school classroom to students in the class of 2027. Only students with parent permission are invited to participate. Students that do not participate work on a quiet activity provided by their teacher.

Yes. The survey is anonymous and every student’s information is confidential. Student’s names do not appear on the survey. We store student names and emails in a different location than the survey answers to protect everyone’s identity. In addition, all survey information is secure and protected on computers with strong security measures and passwords. Our USC research team has been doing engaged research in schools for 20 years. Someone outside the study has never gotten access to a student’s personal information.

No. Participation is voluntary, and you or your child can decide to withdraw from the study at any time.

Yes. The survey does take up one class period once a semester. Students who do not participate will work on a quiet activity provided by their teacher. No lesson will be taught during this time.

• Your child’s school and activities: Results are used to help strengthen school programs that are responsive to the needs of students. Furthermore, results inform approaches and programs at school wellness centers, support student-led groups related to tobacco prevention and mental wellness, and create awareness among the broader community (including school leadership) and the LA Department of Public Health. After reviewing results, policy makers may decide which school districts get funds for special programs and activities that help students strive. 

• Policy: Results from other studies in our research have informed tobacco policy, prevention efforts such as flavor bans on nicotine products, and the Tobacco 21 Law. We have strong partnerships with the Los Angeles and California Departments of Public Health with a direct channel for providing findings to rapidly change local and state policy.

• Experience: Lastly, in addition to participating in a large USC cohort study, students will interact with USC researchers and learn about the social science research process.

We appreciate each school’s participation.To express our gratitude, we give $50 gift cards to teachers every semester, provide $1,500 per semester towards each school’s activity fund, and provide meetings, town halls, trainings, videos, and briefs on topics of interest identified by the school. If a parent agrees to receive a link to the study’s consent form, their child will receive a five dollar electronic gift card to their student email, regardless of their decision to provide consent.

Eight high schools participate in the EPIC Study.

The team has been doing engaged research in schools for 20 years.

We seek to engage, learn from, and serve the schools we partner with by disseminating data-driven evidence to increase awareness, counteract stigma, and inform policy that protects youth. Our study aims to assess high school students’ developmental patterns of substance use (vaping, alcohol, nicotine, cannabis), behaviors, attitudes, and overall well-being.

• August 2024: Teacher meetings

• September 2024: 5-min study intro in class, parental consent

• November 2024: First Survey

• 2025-2028: Follow-up survey

The study is funded by our partners at the National Institutes of Health.

We are expecting approximately 3,500 student participants.