Pink Cloud app to help people stay sober after treatment
Digital Aftercare Assessed: An Evaluation of the Pink Cloud Application in Post-Treatment Substance Use Disorder Support.
This project will see if the Pink Cloud smartphone app helps people with alcohol or drug addiction stay sober after completing treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pink Cloud LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Culver City, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11191566 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to use the Pink Cloud smartphone app after finishing treatment for alcohol or drug use. The app links you to a large, searchable list of in-person and virtual 12-step meetings and includes tools like a sobriety counter, daily planners, and private journals. Study staff will track how people use the app and compare recovery outcomes and self-reported substance use over several months to see whether app users do better than standard aftercare. Most participation and data collection can be done remotely while protecting your privacy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have recently completed treatment for substance or alcohol use disorder, own a smartphone, and are seeking aftercare support would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a smartphone, those who need inpatient or intensive psychiatric care, or those who prefer only face-to-face support may not benefit from this digital approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could make aftercare easier to access and help more people maintain sobriety after treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Some digital recovery tools have shown promise in smaller studies, but large controlled trials of widely used 12-step apps like Pink Cloud are limited.
Where this research is happening
Culver City, UNITED STATES
- Pink Cloud LLC — Culver City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Varughese, Jason — Pink Cloud LLC
- Study coordinator: Varughese, Jason
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.