Can a 4-Week virtual program help people stop drinking? new study tests remote breathalyzer monitoring
NCT ID NCT05722483
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tested a 4-week virtual intensive outpatient program for 63 people with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. The program included group therapy, individual therapy, medication management, and multiple daily breathalyzer checks using facial recognition. The goal was to see if people would stay in the program and find it satisfactory, with a target retention rate of at least 50%.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Virtual intensive outpatient program (cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT skills, health and wellness groups, individual therapy, medication management, and remote breathalyzer monitoring)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that a fully virtual program can help people with alcohol use disorder stay abstinent and engaged in treatment, offering a more accessible option than residential care.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-arm pilot study with no comparison group, so results may not prove effectiveness. The program is intensive and may not suit everyone, and long-term outcomes beyond the 4-week period are not measured.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1H4, Canada
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