Leveraging Transdermal Alcohol Monitoring to Reduce Drinking Among DWI Defendants

Purpose

The current study will evaluate the efficacy of contingency management (i.e., reinforcement for avoiding heavy drinking) among adults arrested for drunk driving and who are at risk for ongoing heavy drinking.

Condition

  • Drunk Driving

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 21 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • arrested for drunk driving offense

Exclusion Criteria

  • significant alcohol withdrawal symptoms - medical condition that would contraindicate participation (e.g., pregnancy, scheduled surgery) - inability to comprehend the informed consent process or study instructions - presence of a DSM-5 psychiatric disorder with symptoms of psychosis and/or delirium - incarceration

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
random assignment to treatment and control arms
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Contingency Management
Incentive delivery contingent upon maintaining transdermal alcohol concentration below cut-off
  • Behavioral: Contingency Management
    Incentive provided for changing alcohol drinking patterns based on ankle monitor
Placebo Comparator
Control
Incentive delivery not contingent on transdermal alcohol concentration
  • Behavioral: Control
    Incentive provided is not contingent on alcohol drinking patterns based on ankle monitor

More Details

Status
Suspended
Sponsor
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Study Contact

Detailed Description

Individuals who have a drunk driving arrest and are at risk for ongoing heavy drinking will be recruited to test the efficacy of contingency management for reducing alcohol use and identifying mechanisms of change. We will recruit those arrested for drunk driving offenses, ≥ 21 years of age, who at risk for ongoing heavy alcohol use and randomize them to one of two groups: control or a contingency management. Participants experience 8 weekly assessments of current alcohol use and other variables associated with changes in alcohol use. Post-intervention, participants will return to the laboratory once per month at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-study entry for follow-up procedures to determine the mechanisms of drinking behavior change.