Alessi, S. M., & Petry, N. M. (2013). A randomized study of cellphone technology to reinforce alcohol abstinence in the natural environment. Addiction. doi: 10.1111/add.12093
Participants received a cellphone, breathalyzer and training on video-recording alcohol breath tests (BrACs) and texting results. For 4 weeks, staff texted participants one to three times daily indicating that a breath alcohol concentration test (BrAC) was due within the hour. Participants were randomized to (1) modest compensation for submitting dated time-stamped BrAC videos regardless of results or (2) the same plus CM with escalating vouchers for on-time alcohol-negative tests. On average, 88.6% of BrACs were submitted on time, without group differences. The longest duration of abstinence (LDA) was greater with CM, and there was an interaction effect on drinking frequency and negative consequences, with decreases over time with CM (P = 0.00; effect sizes d = 0.52–0.62). Cellphone technology may be useful for extending contingency management to treatment for alcohol problems.