Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 18Years +
All Genders
ID04927143

Encouraging Abstinence Behavior in a Drug Epidemic: Optimizing Dynamic Incentives

Led by Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Updated on 2026-02-12

600

Participants Needed

2

Research Sites

N/A

Total Duration

On this page

Sponsors

W

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Lead Sponsor

U

University of Chicago

Collaborating Sponsor

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of different financial incentive schedules delivered via a mobile app to encourage abstinence from opioid and cocaine use. It addresses the rising drug overdose crisis in the U.S., focusing on substance use disorders including opioid-use disorder, cocaine use disorder, and methamphetamine abuse. Incentive programs have shown promise in improving abstinence, but scaling them has been limited by logistical challenges, which this study seeks to overcome with a novel mobile solution. Participants will use the DynamiCare app, which remotely monitors drug use through saliva tests verified by selfie videos and tracks treatment adherence. The study compares multiple incentive schedules: escalating incentives that increase with success, de-escalating incentives that decrease with success, constant incentives, and a control group with no incentives. Incentive amounts vary by group and are delivered rapidly as cash to a linked debit card, aiming to maximize motivation and ease of access. During the study, participants submit saliva drug tests via the app and receive incentives accordingly. Researchers will assess outcomes such as the percentage of negative drug tests and app acceptability at 3 and 12 months. Additional measures include psychotherapy attendance, relapse rates, and treatment retention. The study involves randomized group assignment and continuous monitoring of abstinence behaviors, with the goal of informing optimal incentive designs for substance use disorder treatment.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Encouraging Abstinence Behavior in a Drug Epidemic: Optimizing Dynamic Incentives

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years +
All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Age at least 18 years old
  • Meet DSM-5 criteria for opioid use disorder, cocaine use disorder, or methamphetamine use disorder
  • Have access to a smartphone with a data plan and be willing to download the DynamiCare app
  • Have an email account accessible from your smartphone
  • Currently in residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or outpatient substance use treatment
  • Likely to benefit from contingency management by either starting treatment within 14 days before consent or having used opioids, cocaine, or methamphetamines non-medically within the last 21 days
  • Able to understand English
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Evidence of active psychosis not related to substance use that may impair participation
  • Significant cognitive impairment that may affect participation or having a legal guardian due to impairment

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

1
2
3
+1

Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person or remote) to confirm eligibility and set up the DynamiCare app

Outpatient Treatment

Duration - Up to 12 months

Participants use the DynamiCare app to submit drug-negative saliva tests and receive financial incentives based on their assigned group. The app enables remote monitoring and delivers incentives almost immediately after verified abstinence behaviors.

Regular app interactions for submitting saliva tests with incentive delivery; in-person or remote check-ins may occur as part of substance use treatment

Follow-up

Duration - Up to 12 months

Participants are observed to assess app acceptability and longer-term outcomes related to substance use and treatment adherence after the intervention period.

Periodic assessments including app acceptability evaluation at month 12

Trial Site Locations

Total: 2 locations

1

Rogers Behavioral Health

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, United States, 53066

Actively Recruiting

2

Advocate Aurora Behavioral Health Services

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, United States, 53212

Actively Recruiting

Loading map...

Research Team

K

Kevin Petranu

M

Mercedes Robaina, PhD

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

NONE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Number of Arms

7

Similar Trials

Comparison of Dexamethasone Versus Dexmedetomidine Added to ...

Pain, Postoperative

Actively Recruiting

1 location

[C-11]NPA PET-amphetamine in Cocaine Use Disorders (Aim 2)

Cocaine Use Disorder

Actively Recruiting

1 location

A Randomized Clinical Trial of a Novel Drug Education and Di...

Substance Use

Actively Recruiting

1 location

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions? Get in touch with our team for quick support

Not the Right Trial for You?

Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Already have an account? Log in here

Published Research Related To This Trial

The efficacy of escalating and fixed contingency management reinforcement on illicit drug use in opioid-dependent pregnant women.

Melissa L Hutchinson, Margaret S Chisolm, Michelle Tuten...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23226717

Randomized clinical trial examining duration of voucher-based reinforcement therapy for cocaine abstinence.

Kimberly C Kirby, Carolyn M Carpenedo, Karen L Dugosh...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23680075