# Remote alcohol monitoring to facilitate abstinence reinforcement with an underserved population

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2020 · $658,798

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Lifetime prevalence of DSM-5 alcohol use disorder in the United States is 29%, but only 20 to 24% of
people with alcohol use disorder ever seek treatment. The most prevalent reasons given for not seeking
treatment relate to an inability or unwillingness (e.g., due to stigmatization) to attend traditional in-person
treatment. For individuals who do receive medical treatment or care for alcohol use disorder, their first point of
contact with the medical community is often for alcohol detoxification. Unfortunately, relapse following alcohol
detoxification is common and few people continue utilizing treatment services after being discharged. The
pervasiveness of alcohol use disorder indicates a need for continued development of high-impact treatments
that are effective, acceptable to the untreated, and easily disseminated widely. Contingency management, or
the delivery of monetary incentives contingent on verified abstinence, is an effective treatment for alcohol use
disorder. However, costs and barriers to accurate, frequent biochemical verification of alcohol abstinence limit
the widespread use of this technique for alcohol use disorder. In our preliminary data, we’ve successfully
demonstrated the feasibility of remote alcohol monitoring and incentives for the reduction of alcohol use. We
used technologically advanced mobile breathalyzers to verify abstinence remotely, cell phones for
communication, and a reloadable debit card to deliver incentives with little delay. Our preliminary study has
shown a high rate of abstinence with this model and participants gave this approach high ratings for
effectiveness and acceptability. Here, we will develop this model into two treatment options ready for
dissemination: 1) a stand-alone remote treatment directed toward abstinence initiation and maintenance in
underserved individuals, and 2) an adjunct to existing treatment services to prevent relapse after hospital
detoxification. We will also address additional gaps in knowledge in both treatment contexts: 1) what the
maximally effective duration and intensity of abstinence incentives is, and 2) what the persistence of treatment
effects are once incentives are discontinued. Through the use of technological advancements combined in a
novel way with abstinence incentives, the proposed research has the potential to provide a framework for
bringing effective, evidence-based treatments to a large number of individuals with alcohol use disorder who
are currently underserved by existing treatment options or are unable to maintain abstinence after
detoxification. Due to the extent of automation and relatively low use of research staff to execute, this
treatment model is highly scalable, an important feature when addressing the large problem of untreated
alcohol use disorder.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10015192
- **Project number:** 5R01AA026605-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Mikhail Nikolaas Koffarnus
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $658,798
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-20 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10015192

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10015192, Remote alcohol monitoring to facilitate abstinence reinforcement with an underserved population (5R01AA026605-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10015192. Licensed CC0.

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