Ann Arbor Times

The University of Michigan is set to initiate a pilot program that leverages smartphones to support individuals with substance use disorders. This program, known as digital contingency management, aims to reward positive behaviors such as medication adherence and treatment engagement with monetary incentives, gift cards, and vouchers.

This initiative marks the first time such a treatment is being implemented in the state. Digital contingency management is an evidence-based approach that offers motivational incentives to individuals with opioid, alcohol, and other substance use disorders as they achieve treatment goals. The program seeks to address health inequities by providing accessible care through handheld devices.

The launch of this program will coincide with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' Recovery Incentives pilot program. Training for clinics has already begun, with services expected to be available to patients starting January 2025.

Anne Fernandez and Lara Coughlin, faculty members at the University of Michigan's Innovations in Addiction Care through Research and Education and the Opioid Research Institute, have secured a $1.17 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for this project. The initial phase will focus on engaging Medicaid beneficiaries in Michigan.

“Approximately 80%-90% of people with substance use disorders do not access formal addiction treatment services,” stated Coughlin, assistant professor of psychiatry. “Offering programs like digital contingency management allows us to expand access to care for individuals who may not otherwise receive it."

Coughlin emphasized that digital contingency management could enhance the reach of effective addiction care while reducing health disparities. She added that it represents a crucial step forward in improving addiction-related outcomes, including overdose prevention.

Fernandez noted that "because digital contingency management is delivered remotely, it can reach anyone with a smartphone," which is increasingly common among Medicaid beneficiaries. In addition to promoting abstinence, this approach can incentivize treatment engagement and peer recovery participation.

The program aims to develop strategies for scaling up future trials on effectiveness and implementation. Researchers plan to conduct exit interviews with participants to gather insights into patient and provider perceptions regarding program adoption.

“This program can address multiple recovery-focused behaviors simultaneously with the goal of improving outcomes for co-occurring opioid and alcohol use disorder,” said Fernandez. She expressed optimism about conducting this research in Michigan and hopes for broader statewide implementation in the long term.