Leveraging Transdermal Alcohol Monitoring to Reduce Drinking Among DWI Defendants

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Drunk Driving
• Interventions: Behavioral: Contingency Management; Behavioral: Control

• Registration Number: NCT03638596
• Lead Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Brief Summary

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.

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-05-01
• Study First Submitted: 2018-08-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-08-16
• Study First Posted: 2018-08-20
• Primary Completion: 2020-03-15
• Study Completion: 2021-03-15
• Status Verified: 2024-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-05-06
• Last Update Posted: 2024-05-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 158

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

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Contingency Management	Contingency Management	Incentive delivery contingent upon maintaining transdermal alcohol concentration below cut-off
Control	Control	Incentive delivery not contingent on transdermal alcohol concentration

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percent heavy drinking days	8-weeks	Percent of days with estimated breath alcohol concentration .08% or higher or self-reported drinks \> 5 for men and \> 4 for women

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Follow-up percent heavy drinking days	12-months	Self-reported drinks \> 5 for men and \> 4 for women
Measurement of alcohol biomarker	Baseline to 8-weeks	Change in phosphatidylethanol (PEth) using an assay on a blood sample
Follow-up percent drinking days	12-months	Any self-reported drinks
Percent drinking days	8-weeks	Percent of days with any positive transdermal alcohol concentration \>.02 or any self-reported drinks

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio; 🇺🇸 San Antonio, Texas, United States