Environment and Alcohol: A Pilot Study

What this study involves

The registry says this study is recruiting. Individual locations may have different availability.

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Age range

21 years - 100 years

Sex eligible

All sexes

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

Participants

44 Estimated

These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.

About the research

Background:

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic disease that causes more than 140,000 US deaths each year. AUD treatment often includes therapy and medication. Some people with AUD may also benefit from behavioral and lifestyle changes.

Objective:

To evaluate the effects of different activities and environments on drinking behaviors and mental health in people with AUD.

Eligibility:

People aged 21 years and older with AUD.

Design:

Participants will have up to 10 study visits in Baltimore.

Participants will have a baseline visit. They will have a physical exam with blood and urine tests. They will have a breath test for alcohol and a test that measures body composition. They will answer questions about their alcohol and substance use; mental and physical health; mood and anxiety; and sleep quality.

Participants will download an app called MetricWire. The app will send 3 sets of questions to be answered at different times throughout the day.

The study visits will include 2 stages:

1. Active stage. On these visits, participants will use a virtual reality system called the Meta Quest Pro (MQP) as they choose. Then they may choose among video games, puzzles, books, crafts, and other activities.. These sessions will last for 3 hours.
2. Passive stage. On these visits, participants will watch videos selected by the research team. These sessions will last for 3 hours.

On the last visit of each stage, participants will sit in a room that looks like a bar. They will answer questions about their cravings, their urge to drink, and how many drinks they would buy. Participants will be served 1 drink containing alcohol. They will be asked about their cravings and subjective effects of alcohol after drinking it.

Who may be able to participate?

The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

To meet eligibility for this study, participants must meet all the following criteria:

1. At least 21 years old
2. Owns a cellular device ("smart phone") and is willing to download the EMA application and use it to answer the study questionnaires
3. Diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (minimum of 2 DSM-5 criteria on a valid diagnostic tool, e.g., Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) or the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID))
4. Self-reported drinking, according to alcohol Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB), of \> 7 drinks per week for females or \> 14 drinks per week for males, on average, during the 28-day period prior to screening + at least four days with \> 3 drinks for females or \> 4 drinks for males during the 28-day period prior to screening
5. Most recent Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol - revised (CIWA-Ar) score \< 10
6. If a female of childbearing potential: not pregnant or breastfeeding, no intention to become pregnant during the study duration, and agrees to use a highly effective contraception method to prevent pregnancy for the entire study duration. Highly effective contraception methods will be determined by the MAI or designee.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Any individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from this study:

1. Current use of FDA-approved pharmacotherapy for AUD (or of a medication intended as an off-label use to treat AUD as determined by the MAI), or currently seeking treatment for AUD
2. Medical and/or mental health conditions that are clinically unstable and would therefore compromise the safety and/or scientific integrity of the study, as determined by the MAI or study team respectively.
3. Known history of clinically significant cybersickness.
4. Any other reason or clinical condition that the Investigators judge would interfere with study participation and/or be unsafe for a participant
5. Unable to speak, read, write, and understand English

Justification: Many of the assessments have only been validated in English, and therefore, a non-English translation would jeopardize the scientific integrity of the study.

Treatment, groups and participation

The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.

Assignment

Not applicable

Masking

No masking

What researchers are measuring

Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.

Primary measures

Secondary measures

Research locations (1)

The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.

1 locations

Study team and timeline

Lead sponsor

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Study start

Nov 15, 2026 Estimated

Primary completion

Mar 1, 2027 Estimated

Study completion

Mar 1, 2028 Estimated

First posted

Mar 6, 2025 Actual

Last updated

Nov 10, 2026 Actual

Official study contacts