Virtual rewards program using a monthly blood test to support stopping alcohol
Assessing the Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness of a Virtual PEth-based Contingency Management for Adults with AUD
This program sees if a telehealth rewards approach that uses a monthly blood-based alcohol test can help adults with alcohol use disorder reduce drinking and stay abstinent.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pullman, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171603 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would use a small at-home blood collection device (TASSO-M20) to provide monthly PEth samples that detect alcohol use for up to 28 days. If your sample shows no alcohol, you could receive tangible rewards as part of a telehealth contingency management program that runs for 26 weeks. The program is delivered remotely to reduce travel, stigma, and the burden of daily testing. Study staff will track drinking, retention, and costs to understand whether this lower-burden approach helps people remain abstinent longer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults age 21 and older with alcohol use disorder who want to stop or significantly reduce drinking and can use telehealth and an at-home blood collection device are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 21, those not seeking abstinence, or individuals unable or unwilling to use at-home blood collection or without reliable internet/phone access may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a lower-burden telehealth option that uses monthly blood testing and rewards to support longer-term abstinence for people with AUD.
How similar studies have performed: Prior telehealth contingency management trials and a pilot PEth-based approach showed reductions in alcohol use, but delivering PEth-based rewards for a full 26-week period is a newer, less-tested strategy.
Where this research is happening
Pullman, United States
- Washington State University — Pullman, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdonell, Michael G — Washington State University
- Study coordinator: Mcdonell, Michael G
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.