Digital treatment that uses contingency management to help people with stimulant use disorder stay abstinent
Official title: Decentralized clinical trial of contingency management digital therapeutic to treat stimulant use disorder
Funded at Dynamicare Health, INC. · NIH-11385450 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A digital therapeutic delivered by an app helps people with stimulant use disorder follow a structured program that rewards staying substance-free over a year.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dynamicare Health, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $451,415 |
| NIH project number | 5R44DA059519-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385450 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with stimulant use disorder who are seeking structured digital treatment and can participate in remote saliva testing and app-based activities.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who cannot use smartphones or survive on in-person, non-digital treatment modalities may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
This project tests a mobile, prescription-like digital tool that automates contingency management for stimulant use disorder. The app uses remote, self-administered saliva tests witnessed by a selfie video to verify abstinence and deliver rewards, aiming for a full year of support. By integrating this into routine care and aligning with existing billing pathways, the program seeks to overcome common barriers to adoption. Participants would engage with guided therapy modules alongside the CM framework to support adherence and recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have easier access to an evidence-based, app-based treatment that supports abstinence from stimulants over a longer period.
How similar studies have gone: Digital contingency management approaches have shown promise in related substance use treatments, though this specific year-long, automated model is novel in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
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.