Mobile Contingency Management to increase naloxone carriage (CM4COYN)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Contingency management to increase naloxone carriage: development and testing of a new behavioural intervention (CM4COYN)
IRAS ID
362229
Contact name
John Strang
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
Aim
This project aims to find out whether a smartphone app that provides reminders and small rewards can help people who use opioids carry their take-home naloxone more often. Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose and save lives, but only if it is being carried.
Study aims: (1) to develop and test a mobile Contingency Management intervention that provides positive reinforcement for carrying naloxone; (2) to assess whether the app is acceptable, easy to use, and reliable; and (3) to determine whether a larger trial to test effectiveness would be feasible.Background
Opioid use disorder is a major public health issue, and overdose deaths remain high in the UK and worldwide. Although take-home naloxone is effective, many people do not carry it regularly. Contingency Management, which provides small rewards for positive behaviours, has been shown to support behaviour change in people with substance use problems. Delivering this approach through a smartphone app may provide a practical and scalable solution.What is being studied
The study focuses on naloxone carriage. The intervention is a smartphone app developed with a digital health company. The app sends a notification when participants leave home and asks them to upload a photo to confirm they are carrying naloxone. Some participants will receive small rewards, while others will not.Design and methods
The research includes focus groups with people who use opioids to explore barriers to carrying naloxone, and separate focus groups with service commissioners. An early version of the app will then be tested. Finally, a feasibility study will recruit 40 adults who use opioids and were supplied take-home naloxone from NHS and non-NHS services (community sites) in London and Derby. Participants will be randomly allocated to the app with or without rewards and will take part for 10 weeks, with interviews at 6 and 10 weeks.Study funded by the NIHR.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/YH/0084
Date of REC Opinion
16 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion