DISCOVER UNCOVER DISCARD? –
APRIL 10, 2026 – Kaitlyn Line, a Peak Undergraduate Research Fellow, participates in immersive research and internship experiences toward understanding a devastating societal challenge and barriers to resolution. The ArtSci Scholar of the Year presents at the National Conference on Undergrad Research April 13-15. Substance abuse resulting in addiction, says Utah State University social work scholar Kaitlyn Walker Line, is a downward, hard-to-escape spiral.
“People initially make a choice to try alcohol or illegal drugs, or to abuse a prescription medication,” Line says. “But over time, the substance rewires a person’s brain structure and function. Addiction leads to compulsive, uncontrollable behavior, where a person lies and steals to get their next ‘fix,’ while damaging relationships with loved ones, losing employment and destroying financial stability.”
Line, who was named Scholar of the Year for the College of Arts and Sciences, will present her research on addiction and recovery April 13-15 at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Richmond, Virginia.
