MiREA-AC App for Alcoholism and Marijuana Addiction

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: mHealth Systems Inc.

Disqualifiers: Non-college student, no alcohol use

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 2 weeks

150 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to test a smartphone app designed to help college students struggling with heavy episodic drinking and cannabis misuse. The app, MiREA-AC, offers tools to promote healthy habits and reduce alcohol and cannabis use. Researchers aim to determine if the app is helpful and easy to use for students. College students who have consumed alcohol in the past 90 days might be a good fit for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers the opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could benefit many students.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that the MiREA-AC app is safe for use in addressing alcohol and cannabis misuse?

Research has shown that mobile apps can help people reduce alcohol and drug use. Many of these apps already support recovery and lower intake. The MiREA-AC app is one such tool under study to assess its safety and effectiveness.

Current information from similar apps suggests they are easy to use and have few side effects. Since these apps mainly track usage and offer support, they typically don't cause physical symptoms like a drug might. The MiREA-AC app aims to help college students manage their alcohol and cannabis use, making it a low-risk option for harmful effects.

So far, studies have not reported any major problems with the MiREA-AC app. For those considering joining the trial, the app is intended to be a safe and helpful tool. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Most treatments for alcoholism and marijuana addiction, like counseling or medication, require ongoing commitment and can take time to show effects. However, the MiREA-AC app stands out because it offers a digital intervention that can be administered over just two weeks. This app leverages technology to potentially deliver personalized support and behavior modification strategies directly to users' smartphones, making it more accessible and possibly faster-acting than traditional methods. Researchers are excited about the potential for this app to streamline treatment and make support more readily available to those struggling with these addictions.

What evidence suggests that the MiREA-AC app is effective for alcohol and cannabis misuse?

Research shows that the MiREA-AC app, which participants in this trial will use, might help college students reduce heavy drinking and cannabis use. The app provides personalized feedback to help users understand their habits and the effects of their substance use. Studies have found that this type of feedback can change how people think about and use substances. Some research also suggests that cannabis use might help reduce alcohol consumption, but further study is needed. The MiREA-AC app applies these findings to encourage healthier choices in students. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for college students who have consumed alcohol in the past 90 days and may be struggling with heavy episodic drinking or cannabis misuse. The study aims to help them reduce their substance use through a smartphone app.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a college student who has consumed alcohol in the last 90 days.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Alpha Testing

Theater and field testing to examine the accuracy and address potential technical issues of the developed app

3 months

1 initial in-person session, followed by app usage

Treatment

Participants use the MiREA-AC app for two weeks, receiving personalized feedback and completing baseline questionnaires

2 weeks

App usage with continuous feedback

Pilot Study

Multi-site pilot feasibility trial to assess feasibility and accessibility of the app

9 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for usability and acceptability of the app, and report on alcohol and cannabis use and consequences

6 weeks

Feedback collection at 2-week and 6-week intervals

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• MiREA-AC

Trial Overview

The MiREA-AC, an mHealth smartphone application designed to prevent heavy drinking and cannabis misuse among mandated college students, is being tested for its effectiveness in promoting healthier behaviors.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: experimental arm which received the intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

experimental arm receives two week dose of the MiREA intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

mHealth Systems Inc.

Lead Sponsor

University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Collaborator

Trials

27

Recruited

12,200+

Boston Children's Hospital

Collaborator

Trials

801

Recruited

5,584,000+

Citations

1.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT07339150

MiREA-AC for Reducing Problematic Alcohol and ...

It examines why someone uses substances and provides personalized feedback on consumption and consequences, social norms, and challenges.

2.

withpower.com

withpower.com/trial/phase-cannabis-misuse-7-2025-663b1

MiREA-AC App for Alcoholism and Marijuana Addiction

The study will be used to attune a successful evidence-based mHealth smartphone (SP) application (MiREA-AC) focused on alcohol and Cannabis misuse by college ...

3.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5339049/

Cannabis use during treatment for alcohol use disorders ...

A 30-year prospective study of alcohol abusers showed that almost half maintained a year of alcohol abstinence, with some claiming to substitute cannabis for ...

4.

brown.edu

brown.edu/news/2025-11-19/cannabis-alcohol

As 'California sober' catches on, study suggests cannabis ...

For now, the study provides preliminary evidence that cannabis may reduce alcohol consumption in the lab, but more study is warranted before ...

5.

ngdc.cncb.ac.cn

ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/openlb/publication/OLB-PM-27865015

Cannabis use during treatment for alcohol use disorders ...

The current study compares longitudinal drinking data between those who used cannabis versus those who abstained during COMBINE treatment. SETTING: The COMBINE ...

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11845864/

The role and reach of alcohol reduction apps - PMC

There are hundreds of alcohol reduction apps that help individuals reduce their alcohol intake, abstain from alcohol, and/or support long term recovery ...

7.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227624001716

The screening of cannabis addiction using machine ...

A new cannabis addiction screening approach is developed based on the use of Machine Learning (ML) alongside with psychological and cognitive assessment ...

8.

jmir.org

jmir.org/2020/11/e17156/

Mobile Apps to Reduce Tobacco, Alcohol, and Illicit Drug Use

This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review of trials evaluating mobile app interventions for problematic tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use.