Combining a Smartphone App With Medications to Manage Heavy Drinking
One in 10 Veterans have an alcohol use disorder. However, few Veterans receive evidenced-based psychosocial interventions or medications to treat alcohol use disorder. Barriers to receiving these treatments include long wait times, stigma, and long distances from treatment facilities. Even fewer Veterans receive psychosocial and medication interventions together, despite clinical practice guidelines recommending both and evidence of better outcomes. Expanding access to these treatments in primary care is a VA priority but delivering psychosocial interventions is difficult in this setting, and medication is often the only option. Smartphone apps that deliver alcohol interventions may improve drinking outcomes and ensure Veterans can receive both treatments in primary care. This study will determine whether medications and an app for alcohol use problems offered to Veterans in primary care results in improved drinking outcomes, compared to Veterans receiving medications only. Study data will inform how to spread the app across the VA nationally.
- EligibilityCriteria: Inclusion Criteria:  To be eligible, Veterans must be:  1) diagnosed with an AUD and report 4 HDD  (defined as 5 standard drinks per day for men and 4 standard drinks per day for women) in prior 30-days 2) enrolled in VA primary care 3) planning to initiate MAUD, as determined by a medication order 4) between ages 18-80 5) willing to be randomized 6) Android or iPhone smartphone owners  Exclusion Criteria:  1) past 30-day participation in VA or non-VA SUD treatment 2) prior episode of MAUD receipt in the last 30 days (initiation of a new episode of MAUD in the 7 days prior to screening allowed) 3) plans to be or are pregnant 4) severe psychiatric symptoms or psychosocial instability likely to prevent participation in the study protocol, as determined by the referring provider. Veterans aged >80 were excluded because ownership and use of mHealth apps decreases with advancing age. Participants who enter SUD specialty care following randomization will be allowed to continue in the study - HealthyVolunteers: No - Gender: All - MinimumAge: 18 Years - MaximumAge: 80 Years - StdAgeList: Adult, Older Adult