Using a digital app to help treat stimulant use disorder
Official title: Decentralized clinical trial of contingency management digital therapeutic to treat stimulant use disorder
Funded at Dynamicare Health, INC. · NIH-10786828 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a friendly app that helps people with stimulant use disorder by providing support and rewards for staying drug-free, making it easier for them to stick to their treatment plan.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,076,018 |
| NIH project number | 1R44DA059519-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10786828 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with stimulant use disorder who are seeking treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have stimulant use disorder or those who are not interested in using digital therapeutic tools may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a digital therapeutic app designed to deliver contingency management (CM) for individuals struggling with stimulant use disorder. The app automates the CM process, allowing patients to complete rapid saliva tests witnessed via selfie video, and provides a year-long program of self-guided therapy. By addressing common barriers to treatment, such as reimbursement and implementation fidelity, this approach aims to improve patient access and adherence to treatment protocols. Patients will engage with the app to receive support and incentives for maintaining abstinence from stimulants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more accessible and effective treatment option for individuals with stimulant use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using digital therapeutics for behavioral health, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Digital treatment that uses contingency management to help people with stimulant use disorder stay abstinent
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.
-
At-home app that uses rewards to help people stop stimulant use
An at-home smartphone program offers rewards and self-guided therapy to help people with stimulant use disorder reduce or stop stimulant use.
-
Using incentives to improve care for opioid use disorder
This study is testing a new digital program that helps people with opioid use disorder by making it easier for them to stick to their treatment plans and get support from their healthcare providers, so they can have a better chance at recovery.
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.