ClearMind wins Rep. Gabe Evans’ 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Colorado’s Eighth District

When asked what inspired the creation of ClearMind, Aditi Muthukumar said, “I developed ClearMind to support teenagers, parents, and schools to have open and safe conversations regarding the causes and effects of teenage cannabis use. In my own community, I am working with a youth research team studying teenage substance use in students of color. Through this research, I have learned that while statewide data shows declining usage rates, those numbers do not always capture the lived experiences of teens who might feel unsafe reporting their use due to stigma or potential consequences. This realization inspired me to design ClearMind as a space that not only shares credible information, but also encourages honest dialogue and understanding between teens, parents, and schools. 

“I want this app to be different from resources already on the Internet because I have directly engaged with this issue through research and speaking with others. As a youth researcher and a participant who has gone through training on preventing substance use, I have had the opportunity to study how legalization and social perceptions shape teen behavior. In addition to formal research, I have spoken with students, teachers, and administrators at my school and across other communities to better understand their challenges in addressing this topic. My goal was to incorporate their insights and credible research/resources to create an app that is empathetic and data-driven.”