With funding from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), NIATx and its research partner, the Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies, are developing and testing a mobile phone-based relapse prevention system that is currently being tested in a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Named Addiction CHESS (ACHESS), the system will be delivered through a smart-phone and will focus on providing information and resources to alcohol-dependent patients leaving residential care. Using the latest communications technology holds great potential to support people in recovery, particularly for young people who have come to rely on the internet and cell phones for information, entertainment, and social support.
Features of ACHESS include:
1) communication with peer support groups and addiction experts;
2) timely monitoring to assess risk of relapse;
3) reminders and alerts to encourage adherence to therapeutic goals;
4) individualized addiction-related educational material and tools tailored to the needs of the particular patient;
5) access to selected Internet-based resources;
6) one-touch communication with a care manager;
7) high-risk location alerts; and
8) 12-step meeting locations (using GPS).
Patients randomly assigned to ACHESS will learn to use it during the two weeks prior to discharge from residential care. For more information, visit Innovations for Recovery.
