Smartphone App Plus Medications to Help Veterans Manage Heavy Drinking A Study on Combining Stand Down App and Medication for Alcohol Use Disorder in Primary Care

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether combining medications for alcohol use disorder MAUD with a smartphone app called Stand Down SD-App can improve drinking outcomes for Veterans diagnosed with alcohol use disorder AUD compared to medications alone. This study addresses barriers Veterans face in accessing psychosocial treatments, such as stigma and distance from clinics, by offering an app-based intervention alongside medication in primary care settings. The trial aims to inform how to spread this app across VA facilities nationally. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard MAUD care or MAUD plus access to the Stand Down app. MAUD includes medications like naltrexone, disulfiram, acamprosate, and topiramate, prescribed by VA clinical providers as usual care. The Stand Down app helps users manage alcohol use through personalized strategies, self-monitoring, and support tools, delivered via their smartphones. The study will enroll 330 Veterans across 15 VA sites and follow them for up to 12 months. Throughout the study, participants will complete assessments at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months, including self-reports and medical record reviews to measure heavy drinking days, alcohol-related problems, risk levels, mental health symptoms, and treatment adherence. Researchers will also conduct interviews with Veterans and VA staff to explore factors affecting the apps adoption and use. The total study participation may last up to one year with ongoing monitoring of drinking behaviors and health outcomes.

Combining a Smartphone App With Medications to Manage Heavy Drinking