Mobile health support to help Veterans with substance use disorders function better after treatment
Official title: Development of a mobile health intervention to support functioning of Veterans with substance use disorders
Funded at VA Connecticut Healthcare System · NIH-11458044 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smartphone app, based on Motivational Enhancement Therapy, is being developed to help Veterans stay on track and function better after leaving residential substance use treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Connecticut Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Haven, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2026 |
| Project end | September 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 1IK2RD001916-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11458044 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with a diagnosed substance use disorder who have completed residential treatment and are transitioning to outpatient care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not recently discharged from residential treatment or without access to a smartphone may experience limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to bridge the transition from intensive residential care to normal life by providing digital support that reinforces recovery efforts. The app, METS4Vets, will be refined and tested to help Veterans maintain functioning and reduce relapse risk during the first month after discharge. Researchers will adapt the therapy principles into a user-friendly mobile tool and evaluate its impact on daily functioning and adherence to post-treatment plans. Patients will interact with the app to receive motivational messages, coping strategies, and prompts for engagement with continuing care resources.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could help Veterans sustain improvements from residential treatment and lower relapse rates in the critical post-treatment period.
How similar studies have gone: Digital health tools based on motivational therapy have shown promise in supporting recovery in similar populations, but results are still emerging for this specific transition period.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schrader, Shannon Willis — VA Connecticut Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Schrader, Shannon Willis
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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.