At-home app that uses rewards to help people stop stimulant use
Decentralized clinical trial of contingency management digital therapeutic to treat stimulant use disorder
['FUNDING_SBIR_2'] · DYNAMICARE HEALTH, INC. · NIH-11184245
An at-home smartphone program offers rewards and self-guided therapy to help people with stimulant use disorder reduce or stop stimulant use.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_SBIR_2'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DYNAMICARE HEALTH, INC. (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11184245 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This remote program uses a smartphone app called DCH-003 that combines reward-based contingency management with self-guided behavioral therapy over a full year. You would submit random, supervised saliva tests by recording a selfie video while taking a rapid test, and the app automatically delivers rewards when tests show abstinence. Most visits and monitoring happen on your phone so the treatment can fit into daily life without frequent clinic trips. The team aims to see if this automated, longer-term digital program can be delivered reliably and help people stay off stimulants where clinic-based programs are hard to access.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with stimulant use disorder (for example, cocaine or methamphetamine) who are willing to use a smartphone and complete remote saliva tests are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without reliable smartphone access, who cannot complete remote saliva sampling, need inpatient care, or prefer medication-based approaches may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide an easy-to-use, at-home treatment that encourages abstinence with rewards and may be billed like other prescription digital therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Contingency management has strong evidence for helping stimulant use disorder and digital therapies have shown promise, but fully automated, year-long programs with remote saliva testing are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, UNITED STATES
- DYNAMICARE HEALTH, INC. — Boston, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GASTFRIEND, DAVID R — DYNAMICARE HEALTH, INC.
- Study coordinator: GASTFRIEND, DAVID R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.